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Oct. 30, 2015 Thunderbolt
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Honor Guard pays trib

Story and photos by Senior Airman Luke honor gua
DEVANTE WILLIAMS National Memo
for fallen vetera
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs guard. They als
events around
Military veterans are the reason why the military is where
it is today. With their dedication, they paved the way for The Luke Air Force Honor guardsm
America’s freedom. When veterans or service members pass Base Honor Guard forms while on
away, they may get provided full funeral honors to recognize prepares to post
their time in service. That’s where the honor guard comes in. the colors March
14, 2014, during the
The Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard team spends numer- F-35 Lightning II un-
ous hours training and preparing uniforms while on and off veiling ceremony at
duty to provide proper military service at a variety of events. Luke Air Force Base.
The honor guard
“Our primary mission is to provide military funeral honors,” performs more than
said Tech. Sgt. Richard Galero, 56th Force Support Squad- 100 details a month,
ron Honor Guard superintendent. “We also provide military which includes color
functions on and off base such as color guard, sports events, guard, flag ceremo-
and flag ceremonies.” nies and funerals.

Luke honor guard members spend numerous hours perfect-
ing their movements.

“It’s a lot of heavy training when you first start honor
guard,” said Senior Airman Smitty Burgees, 56th Medical
Support Squadron biomedical equipment technician. “The
first month is the toughest. We spend that time learning ev-
erything from rifle movements to flag folding. After the first
month, it’s just a matter of execution and making sure you
keep your knowledge up after the first month of training.”

For new honor guard recruits, the mandatory training is
a one-month program before they participate in their first
military function.

“During those first two weeks, it’s about 80 hours of train-
ing,” Galero said. “All the basic moves and funeral honors
will be learned during that time. By the fourth week they
will be going on details.”

In addition to the continuous training, honor guard mem-
bers must keep their uniforms in order at all times.

Luke honor guardsmen are diligent to perform the best
honors they can during funeral honors.

“As I tell the Airmen, we have 10 minutes to relieve the
veteran’s service to his country,” Galero said. “We always
strive to give veterans the respect they deserve.”

Honor guard ceremonies have an effect on many who ob-
serve them, but also those who perform them.

“It a humbling experience,” Burgees said. “It will give any-
one who joins the honor guard a completely different perspec-
tive of the Air Force. When we go out for details, they don’t
see us as Luke members; they see us as the United States
Air Force. If an Airman gets the chance to join, they need to
hop on that opportunity.”