Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire How many have been a pallbearer?

Got one this week...wife's only living blood kin died last week. BIL is a shell of a man right now. Bad stuff.

At least 3 times that I can remember.

Did my share of white cycle taskings as NCOIC for funeral detail.
BN had 3 full pall bearer teams of 6 and 3 tms of 7 for the firing sqds

Each pair underneth its own NCOIC and OIC.
With 2 full additional teams as reserve

White cycle ( post taskings) last 6 weeks.

Funeral teams sole purpose.
Stand by and go.
24 to 48 hr warning from Cas affairs.
Everyone on Tdy status.
Sometimes all 3 primary teams be out for 5 to 7 days at a time traveling between funerals.

Lots of mil vet funerals in TN, KY, North AL, East ARK, South In.


I just wanta be cremated.....

A few times.

👍👍👍👍👍
Same here in Clarksvegas.

When I was in FT Bliss, TX I was assigned to a funeral detail for 2 months if i remember correctly. I was a rifleman for the 21 gun salute. One funeral was for a young man probably 18 or 19. After we fired our rifles, his grandmother broke from the crowd and ran up to us, fell to her knees and began wailing and shrieking in Spanish with her face looking directly up into the sky. Two other women walked up and hugged and comforted her.
I will never forget that day

Maybe 8-10 times

Lots of times. First, the best that I recall, was in 1967, for a good friend that was just seventeen years old. Mark the graves for the local cemetery now. Always try to be there when the grave is dug. I also have helped dig a lot of hand dug graves over the years. miles

Only once, in High School. A friend was killed when his '64 F-85 came off a stand. Pumpkin hit him on the chest. Was too late when someone noticed at his house. He was on a slightly sloped drive...

Twice, once for Grandpa, 2nd time for Grandma.

My college room mate, our senior year of college (car wreck)
My uncle
Wife’s uncle

It's an honor to be asked and a duty to a friend or family member.

A few times, last was my grandmother 104, I led the way while other cousins did the carrying.............. Church building was across a divided 4 lane from the cemetery, carried her across stopping traffic we did.

I have been one for a few.

The last i was supposed to be honorary but had to be one of the 6.

Going down the steps of the church was what worried me because i had only lifted 30 lbs or so after the surgery.

All went as planned.

It was an emotional thing because i knew her and her family since she was in high school.

Dave,

Even here in the liberal northern state of Massachusetts they pull over, at least in the rural western part of the state where I am.

I've probably done it a dozen times.

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.

I'm told, a lot of fireman want a firetruck.

I've carried a casket or two...or maybe more.

In the case of some esteemed elders I have deferred to the youngsters to carry their remains, only to allow them the honor.

I'll be in this position again soon, I know.

A few times. Firstly for my best friend in high school when we were 14. He was killed by a negligent discharge by another guy in our friend group.
A couple grandparents after that. The graveyards grandparents were easier; it wasn't surprising.