Alot of times we was also front row at the church service and carried the casket out of the church to the hertz.
Had to do alot of onsite rehearsals in the churches and grave yards prior.
Every place was different and you dont wanna screw up a vets funeral or the 101,s reputation.
As head of the Casket prior to flag folding .
E 5 or E6 in charge of firing sqd would collect 3 spent shells
( blanks)
March em over to me.
Present them to me.
Then return to the firing sqd.
Then pallbears would start the flag fold on my subdued commands.
Do my formal inspect of triangle at head of casket.
Insert the 3 spent shells as last part.
3 volleys 3 shells.
An extra thing for the next of kin in my mind.
Then I would Present flag to the OIC.
OIC,s had it tough presenting flag to next of kin.
Didnt envy them that at all.
3 spent shells in the flag aint in the ceremony regs.
But it was something I did on my detail.
3 volleys 3 shells.
3 is the number of completion from what I always was told also.
Well done, Rene.
