Respect

[Texas Ranger]

http://www.allproudamericans.com/No-Laughing-at-the-Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier.html

[inspectorwoody]

Just the way it should be.

No reason for laughter or conversation, pay your respects and move on for all the other stuff.

[Warbird]

Amen.

[Chuck White]

That is a great video!

[JV]

The guards will tolerate no disrespect which is the way it should be.  Most people honor the rules but unfortunately there are always a few that need to be reminded.

I am a member of our county's Military Burial Rites Team.  Our job (all volunteers), is to honor the deceased veteran at burial.  There are so many misconceptions about the rituals that this thread gives me an opportunity to hopefully correct some.

21 Gun Salute - The actual 21 gun salute is done with cannon for heads-of-state, going down in number according to the persons position.  The rifle team in an honor guard may consist of 3 to 8 members.  The firing of 3 volleys the objective.  This dates back to the civil war.  A cease fire was called to retrieve the dead and wounded, when each side finished each would fire three volleys to resume battle.  This was adopted to honor the deceased soldiers at burial.

Taps - Taps was written as a bugle call for the end of day, to cease activities.  An officer used it during a burial ceremony instead of three volleys because he was afraid he could restart hostilities by mistake.  Taps soon became used by both sides and is internationally recognized.

Folds of the Flag -  Each fold does not represent something.  It was originally folded to represent the hat worn by soldiers of the revolution.  No red may show when presented.

I don't wish to hijack this thread, but these misconceptions bother me.

[Nomad]

     That soldier did exactly the right thing.  When I was in uniform I was involved in a few funerals.  Since then I've been unfortunate enough to be involved in several more for people I knew.  And as a Patriot Guardsman, I've been fortunate enough to be able to honor quite a few people who really deserved it.

     JV, you didn't hijack anything.  You just informed some people who may not have realized the significance of what they were seeing.

[thecfarm]

JV,thank you for the explanations. I do know enough to show respect. I kinda wonder at times what this great world is really coming too.

[Norm]

Good for him.

[Magicman]

As it should be.

Thanks for the video TR, and thanks for the explanation JV.

[T Welsh]

Respect is what it is all about. the younger generation needs to be informed and taught ,that there way of life did not just happen. men and women gave there lives so this nation could continue! My father WW2 vet and older brother Vietnam vet. both served and I have an enormous amount of respect for our veterans active or not. Tim

[CHARLIE]

Nomad, I didn't realize you were a Patriot Guard.  I was moved by their solemn respect as they lined the road at attention each holding a U.S. Flag. Unforgetable and appreciated.  You are a kind and thoughtful man and it was my pleasure to get to meet you, though I wish under different circumstances.

I saw that YouTube video and while I'm glad that soldier handled the situation, it was sad that he had to.  

[metalspinner]

There are signs posted along the sidewalks at Arlington leading to the Tomb to be respectful and quiet. Everyone in attendance had ample warning to behave themselves.

There is another video of somebody dropping something over the line and reaching in to pick it up.

[Nomad]

     Charlie I had hoped to ride that day.  Unfortunately, due to one truly obnoxious old bat,  the customer I had to saw for could not put the job off.  It would have left him in a really bad position and I couldn't do that to him.

    I joined the Patriot Guard in '06, I think.  The Westboro Baptist church was planning to picket a soldier's funeral here and I didn't like the idea.  A lot of other people didn't either.  There were almost a thousand riders there that day.