Memorial Honor Detail

Sierra High Vietnam Memorial Re-Dedication

A Memorial Honor Detail is assigned by direction of the United States Department of Defense to perform final military honors at the burial/committal of a deceased veteran of the United States Armed Forces. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and the Coast Guard. Burial in the National Cemetery system is also afforded to other persons in accordance with Federal law.

See also Military Funeral.

Every veteran who served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States of America deserves a proper burial at the venue of his or her choice.^[1] This includes the presentation of full military honors^[2], flag folding, rifle salute and the playing of taps. In addition the spouse and in special cases the children of a veteran can be buried in the same grave. The National Cemetery Administration part of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs operates 131 National Cemeteries in 39 states.^[3]

Riverside National Cemetery

Semper Fi #1 is one of the Memorial Honor Details of the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California, which is located adjacent to the March Air Reserve Base. Currently there are 27 individual details of which Semper Fi #1 is MHD #15. The unit is a 501(c)3 corporation with an elected Board of Directors who serve a two-year term.

The group was formed in 1997 by Master Sergeant Wes Morret, USMC (ret), and seven others who were determined to ensure that every veteran of the United States Military establishment, including the U.S. Coast Guard, is afforded final military honors upon request.

In 1995 due to the closure of some of our military bases and the downsizing of others, the rendering of military honors for deceased veterans being interred at the Riverside National Cemetery had become almost non-existent for more than a year.

A small group of concerned veterans decided that it was time to do something about this lack of final honors for their fallen comrades and the Memorial Honor Detail (MHD) was founded. An executive committee was formed and team recruitment began immediately, primarily from existing veterans organizations' honor details and color guards.

In May 1996 the Memorial Honor Detail began providing services at the Riverside National Cemetery with only three teams and two dispatchers. Today the MHD provides services every working day of the month and has over 500 volunteers, including 28 teams, 9 dispatchers, 2 qualified armors, and a 14-member board of directors.

The all-volunteer unit is composed of veterans of the United States Marine Corps including active, reserve, retired and honorably discharged veterans who are entitled to wear the uniform for ceremonial purposes. Members provide their own uniforms and equipment at their own expense. The unit performs services once per month on the second Friday providing two teams; "Scarlet" and "Gold". Services are performed for all veterans regardless of branch. Beginning in 2010, The "Blue" team will perform services on the fourth Thursday.

Military honors begin with the team escorting the casket or remains to the shelter. The senior team member introduces the team and commands, "Bugler, Sound Attention!" Next the rifle team leader commands the assigned riflemen and delivers the 3-volley salute. "Taps" is then played by the bugler. When available, a bagpiper plays various songs including "Amazing Grace" as the flag is folded and prepared for delivery to the family. In the case of a deceased U.S. Marine, a poem is read and the Marine Corps Hymn is played. The family is given a certificate from U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack. Finally the team reassembles and departs while the funeral service is completed.

MEMORIAL HONOR DETAIL TEAMS AT RIVERSIDE NATIONAL CEMETERY

TEAM 1: NORWALK AMERICAN LEGION POST 359, NORWALK

TEAM 2: AMERICAN LEGION POST 53, HEMET

TEAM 3: DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, ALHAMBRA CHAPTER #22

TEAM 6: VICTOR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, VICTORVILLE

TEAM 9: ORANGE COUNTY FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION, BRANCH #175 (RETIRED)

TEAM 11: VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 2266, SAN JACINTO

TEAM 12: ROBERT J. “UNCLE BOBBY” CASTILLO HONOR DETAIL, AMERICAN LEGION POST 79, RIVERSIDE

TEAM 15: SEMPER FI, MARINE CORPS VETERANS SCARLET, BLUE & GOLD Teams

Semper Fi #1, Team #15 as of December 31, 2009 is composed of over 70 former and retired Marines. They have performed more than 27,089 volunteer hours and 1597 services in its more than 12 year history. More information and pictures of the unit can be found at http://www.againtheyserve.org.

TEAM 17: HEMET HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, HEMET

TEAM 18: VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 8680, RANCHO CUCAMONGA

TEAM 19: VISTA HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, VISTA

TEAM 20: ELSINORE HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, LAKE ELSINORE

TEAM 21: ALL FORCES VOLUNTEERS - CHUCK PARRA

All Forces Honor Guard, Team #21 as of November, 2009 has 20 members and has performed over 20,859 volunteer hours and over 1570 services in its twelve year history. This unit represents all of the Military Services in uniform. Their web site can be found at http://www.allforceshonorguard.com

TEAM 22: AMERICAN LEGION POST 848, SAN JACINTO

TEAM 25: U. S. ARMY MEMORIAL HONOR DETAIL, RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO

TEAM 29: AMERICAN LEGION POST 72, ANAHEIM

TEAM 31: 3RD HONOR DETACHMENT

TEAM 34: CORONA HIGH SCHOOL NAVY JR. ROTC, CORONA

TEAM 35: U. S. ARMY VOLUNTEER RESERVE

TEAM 38: AIR FORCE VETERANS

TEAM 40: VETERANS OF FOREIGH WARS POST 184, RIVERSIDE

TEAM 42: SULTANA HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC

TEAM 43: AMVETS POST 2 (RETIRED)

TEAM 44: CRESCENTA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, LA CRESCENT

TEAM 45: SOBOBA VFW POST 12020

TEAM 46: WEST COVINA JR. ROTC

TEAM 47: INLAND VETS

TEAM 48: HESPERIA HIGH SCHOOL JROTC

TEAM 49: U. S. NAVAL SEA CADETS, MARB

Other service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Marine Corps League, to name a few, provide these services to ensure that every family who requests a service is provided a team. Retired and member who die on active duty are provided services by the appropriate branch. It is the responsibility of the presiding mortuary to make notifications and requests on the family's behalf.^[4]

Central Coast Leatherneck Honor Guard

The primary mission of the Central Coast Leatherneck Honor Guard is to provide MILITARY HONORS for veterans from all branches of service at their funerals or memorial services and further to participate in public patriotic events in a way that shows pride for the United States of America, the Marine Corps, our uniform, and all veterans past and present. So that their families, friends, and the public will recognize through Military traditions, the sacrifices that service men and women have made for our Flag and Country.^[5]

1st Memorial Honors Detail

The 1st Memorial Honors Detail (1MHD) performs military funerals in Ventura County, CA. This MHD is part of a nationwide military society called the 1st U. S. Volunteers. This MHD has members from each branch of service. As of December 31, 2009, the 1MHD Ventura has provided military honors for 215 veterans since January 2004. Go to militaryhonorroll.blogspot.com to see the Honor Roll of names. Post comments at http://comments4militaryhonors.blogspot.com .

References

1. ^ http://www.cem.va.gov/bbene/eligible.asp
2. ^ http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil/
3. ^ http://www.rncsc.org/pages/memorial_honor_detail.html
4. ^ http://www.cem.va.gov/mhg.asp
5. ^ http://www.leatherneckhonorguard.org/index.htm