Maryland National Guard Honor Guard
Federal
Coordinator
Harry
A. Capaldi, CMSgt, (Ret)
Director
John H.
Herzberger, CMSgt, (Ret)
The rendering of military funeral honors is the ceremonial paying of respect and the final demonstration of the country’s gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our Nation. The provision of military funeral honors is designated a total force mission. Both active and reserve component members may perform this mission. We have both Army and Air National Guard personnel in our organization.
Contents
Eligibility
for Funeral Honors
Organization
Our Organization consists of Maryland Army and Air National Guardsman
and is broken down into four teams.
We provide funeral honors at every cemetery in the State of Maryland free of charge for Maryland’s Veterans
LOCATIONS
Headquarters
is located at the 5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore, Maryland
The Western Team is
co-located with Headquarters in Baltimore
The Northern Team is
located at Havre De Grace Military Reservation in Havre De Grace Maryland.
The Southern Team is
located next to the Greenbelt Armory in Greenbelt, Maryland
The Eastern Shore Team
is located in Easton Armory in Easton, Maryland
Our History
1. In 1998 the Maryland Legislature passes law establishing Maryland
National Guard Honor Guard (Army & Air Force) to provide funeral honors for
all Maryland veterans.
2. The members had to be National Guard members or retirees.
3.
We began
five-day operations (two days training & three days of internments at
Veteran Cemeteries only). This was in October of 1998.
4.
This did not work so we
changed to a seven-day operation at all veteran and private Maryland cemeteries
to meet the funeral director’s demands.
5.
US Congress passes
legislation requiring DOD to provide funeral honors for all military
veterans when requested (minimum 2-person detail, removes “as resources permit”
in original federal legislation because very few honors were being performed
other than at Arlington National Cemetery).
6.
The US Congress authorizes
$50 Funeral Honors Stipend for Guard and Reserve personnel.
7.
The Federal stipend was
designed for part time participation by reserve components.
8.
Our Maryland Honor Guard
members are full time professionals that work up to seven days a week.
9.
Our individual members
have participated in as many as seven internments in a single day.
10.
In 2000 The US Air Force
allocated active duty man-days for 12 ANG personnel full time.
11.
Today we have over 60
personnel performing funeral honors across the state daily.
12.
We average over 300
funerals per month and that number is growing.
13.
We currently have over 20
of our personnel deployed with their National Guard Units in support of our
Nation’s security.
The Maryland National Guard Honor
Guard Program is the premier multi-service state Honor Guard in the
country.
530,000 veterans reside in the state
of Maryland
Approximately 1800 WWII Veterans are
dying each day in the US
Approximately 11,200 Maryland Veteran’s deaths are projected to occur each year between 1999
and 2015.
We have provided over 15,000 Funeral Honors to Maryland
Veterans since our inception in 1998
Contact Information
To request Honors or to get more information on our program please contact our office at:
Veterans Affairs
5th Regiment Armory
29th Division Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2288
Phone: 410-576-6133
Fax: 410-576-6191
e-mail us at: herzbergerj@mdmildep.org
We ask that only Funeral Directors call to request
honors. Please have a DD214 or NGB 22
available for information needed to request the honors.
Available Positions
Current Available Positions:
Honor Guard I – Responsible for providing military honors in a team environment.
Individuals must be able to lift 50 Lbs and stand for long periods of time.
Individuals must be current members of the Maryland National Guard or Retired from Military Service.
Individuals must have an impeccable military record and be among the best in order to be a member of the Maryland National Guard Honor Guard.
Individuals must have a valid Maryland Drivers License
Interested individuals may contact the headquarters at 410-576-6133 or email the organization at herzbergerj@mdmildep.org for more information.
These positions are also advertised on the State of Maryland Job Website at http://www.opsb.state.md.us
Graveside Procedures
1. The detail will arrive at the interment
site early and conduct a reconnaissance and rehearsal. Part of the rehearsal
should be the selection of a location out of sight of the mourners for the bugler
or CD player that will sound taps. The detail leader will set up and test the
CD player, ensuring the unit and its remote control is working properly.
2.
Once everything is prepared, the detail leader will position the detail
in their designated place for the arrival of the funeral procession. The detail
leader will themselves near the recording device; the other member(s) will be
positioned near the foot of the grave. The leader will bring the team to
“attention” and “present arms” as civilian pallbearers carry the remains to the
graveside. The team leader will command “order arms” when the remains have been
placed on the lowering device. At the conclusion of the committal service, the
detail leader will sound “Taps” electronically or direct the bugler to sound
“Taps”.
3.
Each detail will “present arms” during “Taps” and “order arms” at its
completion. At the conclusion of “Taps”, the detail will fold the flag.
4.
Generally, the flag is presented to the appropriate family member after
Taps is played. The flag presenter will stand facing the flag recipient and
hold the folded flag waist high with the straight edge facing the recipient.
The presenter will lean forward toward the recipient and solemnly present the
flag to the recipient. Each service uses slightly different wording, for us,
the presenter says, “This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation as a token of
appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by your loved one.”
5.
The Presenter will then come to attention and salute the flag. After dropping his or her salute the detail
will move away from the casket and the family.
Eligibility For Funeral Honors
1. The Office
of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) has defined “Veterans” (for eligibility for
Military Funeral Honors) as any person whom:
a.
Served in the Active
Military, Naval, or Air Service and who was discharged or released under
conditions other than dishonorable; or
b.
Was a member or former
member of the Selected Reserve.
c.
Completed at least one
(1) enlistment as a member of the Selected Reserve or, in the case of an
officer, completed the initial obligated service as a member of the Selected
Reserve; or
d.
Was discharged before
completion of the person’s initial enlistment as a member of the Selected
Reserve or, in the case of an officer, period of initial obligated service as a
member of the Selected Reserve, for a disability incurred or aggravated in line
of duty; or
e.
Died while a member of
the Selected Reserve.
2. Military
burial honors may not be furnished in the case of a person whose last discharge
from the Selected Reserve was under dishonorable conditions.
3. In
accordance with 10 U.S.C. 985, military burial honors may not be furnished for
any individual convicted of a capital offense under federal law for which the
person was sentenced to death or life without parole.
4. The funeral
director is responsible for obtaining the required documentation (NGB 22 or
DD214) from the next of kin to determine if the deceased veteran is eligible
for military funeral honors.
If you are a veteran’s organization
and would like to have one of our representatives come to your meetings to
brief your personnel on our organization and what services we provide please
contact our office and we will do our best to support your requests.
Maryland Military Department also has a website at www.mdmildep.org