Patriot Honor Guard paying respect

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Members of the Patriot Honor Guard team here provide military funeral honors throughout New England and parts of New York for active duty Airmen, retired members and veterans who served in the United States Air Force. 

As Americans pause later this month in remembrance of all service members who died serving their country, Honor Guard officials say that Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony upon request.

"For veterans who served in the United States Air Force, and were released under conditions other than dishonorable, we are required to send a minimum of two people to present the core elements of the funeral honors ceremony, if requested," said Master Sgt. Kevin M. Connors, Patriot Honor Guard superintendent.

The core elements include playing taps, folding the American flag and presenting it to a family member.

"An Air Force retiree is eligible for a firing party, requiring a minimum team of four, and we provide that when requested and manning permits," he said. "However, there are times when manning does not allow it based on the number of funeral details."

The Hanscom Honor Guard team conducts nearly 2,500 funeral details each year.

"On any given day, we are performing as many as 25 funerals throughout Hanscom's area of responsibility," said Tech. Sgt. Paul Cram, Patriot Honor Guard NCO in charge. "This can require up to 50 well-trained base honor guard team members."

Six active duty members and more than 30 others who serve as augmentees staff the Patriot Honor Guard team. The team also receives Honor Guard support from Air National Guard and Reserve units throughout the region.

"Our team members train to perfection - it doesn't matter if someone served four years or 24 years in the Air Force - if they served their country honorably, we are at their funeral, ready to provide the most professional final respects possible," Cram said.

In order to do this, Connors explains, it is important that family members who want military funeral honors tell the funeral director, who will make the request on their behalf.

"The honors are not automatic," he said. "They must be requested by the funeral director or through the family themselves."

The Defense Manpower Data Center provides details on requesting military funeral honors for all branches of military service at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/mfh/getLinks.do?tab=FAQ.

To request funeral honors through the Patriot Honor Guard, Connors said they must receive a DD Form 214 or retirement order as well as a Funeral Honors Request Form.

For those seeking funeral honors, fax the required forms to 781-225-3941 or send via email at Hanscom.Honor.Guard@us.af.mil.

Additional support for retiree funeral honors remain available as needed from authorized providers such as veteran service organizations or local Reserve Officer Training Corps units. To learn more, contact Connors at 781-225-5900 or visit https://www.hanscomservices.com/HonorGuard.asp.

In addition to funeral honors, Hanscom's Honor Guard team participates in community and base-related events on- and off-base as staffing permits.

"It's an incredible honor for each member of the Patriot Honor Guard team to show the nation's deep gratitude to those who, during times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our nation," Connors said. "This ceremonial paying of respect is one of the final recognitions a grateful nation can provide to the veteran's family."