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Precision, honor, respect: Honor Guardsmen recognize sacrifice

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  "On behalf of the president of the United States, the Department of the Air Force, and a grateful nation, we offer our nations flag for the faithful and honorable service of your loved one," recited Airman 1st Class Rori Sorensen, 20th Force Support Squadron Honor Guard acting flight sergeant, as she recounted her first time handing the flag to a loved one during a funeral detail.

Those words are recited by all Air Force Honor Guardsmen with respect and precision when they hand the U.S. flag to a loved one during a funeral of a service member. To have the honor of presenting the flag is considered a privilege by many and is a stout reminder of why their duties are so important.

When Honor Guardsmen step out for a detail, they have to be sharp, crisp, and stoic. Precision is imbedded into their brain. When they perform their duty they only have one shot to get it right. There is no redo when providing honors for a funeral or any other detail, said Master Sgt. Christopher Cohen, 20th FSS Honor Guard superintendent.

One duty the Honor Guard has is to give the family something that shows the Air Force appreciates their kin's service. It is an Honor Guardsman's duty to show how much the Air Force cares about the service members and their families and that they are remembered for the sacrifices that were made while serving their country, said Sorensen.

"(My favorite part of Honor Guard is) going to the funerals," said Sorensen. "I had a lot of pride in what I did after I handed my first flag to a next of kin. I have had some that would just clench the flag like it's the last meaningful thing they have from their loved ones' service. Just to see how grateful they were changed my outlook on being (in Honor Guard)."

Funeral details are just a portion of the Honor Guard duties. Honor Guardsmen also provide firing parties, presentation of the colors, dignified arrivals, and sabers.

"A typical day for an Honor Guardsman depends on if they are training or if they are in the field," said Cohen. "If they are not on a detail, they train, but nine times out of 10 they are out in the field. They arrive in the morning for show time, uniform inspections, to grab their equipment, check out a vehicle, and head out to whatever location they need to go."

It is a myth that if Honor Guardsmen are not on details they sit around. Their first two weeks they train on the fundamentals of their duties so they can go into the field, but they still have to continue training daily because there is a lot of fine tuning to incorporate, said Cohen.

"(Being an Honor Guardsman) is not about yourself," said Sorensen. "It's about the families you are going to do military honors for. It's a very selfless job."

The 20th FSS Honor Guard supports details throughout the east coast including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.

"The military has Honor Guard to render the flag and final salute to the one percent of Americans who well and faithfully serve their country," said Cohen. "Whether they served four years or 28 years, it's an honor to their memory and a service of gratitude to their loved ones."

In the last six months the Honor Guard has provided services for approximately 500 details for men and women who have served or are serving in the armed forces.

"Honor Guard has given me a lot more pride in my work," said Sorensen. "I have a whole different perspective of why we do what we do and the real meaning of being in the Air Force and the ultimate sacrifice."

The pride and precision of an Honor Guardsman is rooted in honoring the men and women who served and leads to a deeper understanding of service for country.