The Old Guard & WWII vets

[Alex F]

I wonder how many of you saw ABC's "Nightline" last night. The first half of the program took a look at the members of the Army's Old Guard as they carried out funeral detail duties at Arlington National Cemetery and as they continue to form the honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Watching this segment filled me both with deep respect for the men and women chosen to perform these duties as well as deep sadness for the loss of life in service to our nation that these soldiers honor and commemorate daily.

During the program, there were several scenes where a band was playing. It was not specifically identified in the segment - may I assume it was Pershing's Own? While the clips of the band playing were short, the musicality and polish of the members was evident.

Does a service band play at all Arlington interrments or are there criteria that must be met to entitle band participation in a burial service?

As Memorial Day approaches and as we dedicate the WWII vets memorial in Washington today, let us remember all the veterans of all branches of the Armed Forces. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

[TubaRay]

"AMEN" to that, Alex. A big thank you to all those who have helped preserve the freedoms of this country--The United States of America!

[brattom]

Alex,

There are certain criterion that must be met in order to have a funeral band at ANC. For detail, visit http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremo ... erals.html.

While I can only speak as to what the Army Band tends to do, a band is often provided for active duty funerals, as well as for members/former members of the band.

I don't know who provided the music for Nightline, but I do know that we gave them some CD's when they were on post last week.

I second your sentiments.

Tom Bratten[/url]

[Leland]

When my grandpa, an Air Force colonel, was buried there in the summr of 2001, there was a horse-drawn caisson, band, rifle party, flight of airmen ("platoon" in other branches), and a bugler for Taps.

We worked on trying to get a bugler from the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps (considering that I had begun duties just months before), but it didn't quite pan out. We also unsuccessfully requested a flyover of some sort (hopefully a B-24 bomber, in which he flew 30 missions over Germany; or KC-135 tanker, which he later commanded & instructed), but those are reserved for higher officers.

Knowing that I became a Marine, he gave me the honor of caring for his flag. It's the one thing I'll fight for if there's a fire at my residence.

Bio:
http://www.40th-bomb-wing.com/bio-jordon.html

[WoodSheddin]

During the program, there were several scenes where a band was playing. It was not specifically identified in the segment - may I assume it was Pershing's Own? While the clips of the band playing were short, the musicality and polish of the members was evident.

Does a service band play at all Arlington interrments or are there criteria that must be met to entitle band participation in a burial service?

I did not see the show, but there was a Nightline camera crew filming several funerals we were on over the course of a few days. We have differing personnel doing funerals from day to day. So it is difficult to see who was on the footage you saw without seeing it myself. The band you saw would have been Pershing's Own if the Old Guard was involved. I hope they got some good live audio takes for the show, but it is also possible that they used canned music and overdubbed.

All the enlisted personnel buried at Arlington receive a simple honors funeral including Taps played by a bugler. Officers are entitled to a full honor funeral including a band.