Elmendorf Honor Guard participates in funeral of H1N1 victim

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) --  The Elmendorf Honor Guard served in the memorial service of an Air Force member at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Oct. 15. 

Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Rankin, who hailed from nearby Anchorage, died Oct. 4 from complications related to the H1N1 virus at his off-base residence in Glendale, Ariz.  Sergeant Rankin was assigned to the 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., where he served as an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief.  He is the first Airman to die of complications related to H1N1. 

The honor guard played an important part in ensuring that Sergeant Rankin was honored. Tasks they performed included: a 21-gun salute, serving as pall bearers and folding a U.S. flag before it was presented to the family of the sergeant. 

Senior Airman Charles Wright, who participated in the memorial service as a member of the firing party, said he took his role in the funeral seriously. 

"I would want the honor guard at my funeral," he said. "I make sure; I give that family a piece of what their loved one was part of. I do everything out there to the best of my ability." 

Tech. Sgt. Marilyn Vazquez is the NCO in charge of the Elmendorf Honor Guard. She said that her group participates in about 25 funerals during summer months and about 10 funerals during winter months. She said the majority of those funerals are for veterans and about one funeral a year is for an active-duty member. 

Staff Sgt. Joshua Coulombe served as the NCO in charge of the pall bearers at the funeral. He said that he always expects a flawless performance from his team.
 
"I want to see perfection," he said. "We don't want to mess it up because this could be the last time the family has any interaction with the military." 

In addition to the honor guard, more than 40 people in military uniform attended the funeral to pay their respects to Sergeant Rankin. Included in that number was a handful of friends and coworkers who made the journey to Alaska from Arizona. 

Chief Master Sgt. Steven Ferrell, who worked with Sergeant Rankin at Luke AFB, said that Sergeant Rankin was a model Airman. 

"He believed there was no greater job than his," he said. "He got great satisfaction from seeing his F-16 break ground and take flight. Knowing and working with him has made me a better person." 

Sergeant Coulombe said that even though he never got to meet Sergeant Rankin, his death resonates with him. 

"You hear about somebody dying from H1N1 on the news and the victim is a faceless person in Texas," he said "This time it really hit home for me. He was part of our Air Force family."