Chaplains provide honored service

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young
  • Air Force Print News
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNEWS) --  On a cold and windy day in Arlington, Va., Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Richard Black reads a few words to the small crowd gathered around a casket in Arlington National Cemetery: "We gather today, in the shadow of our nation's Capitol, to show our respect and to honor one who was prepared to give his life, if need be, so that we and the generations to come would know what it is like to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave."

For chaplains assigned to Arlington National Cemetery, this is a typical duty day.

"Each service provides honor to their members daily," said Chaplain Black. 

The Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard are represented as well at ANC. Together, the service chaplains conduct an average of 27 funerals a day, he said.

Chaplain Black, a Protestant chaplain endorsed by the African Methodist Episcopal church is one of three Air Force chaplains assigned to the 624 acres of the nation's "most hallowed" land. The other Air Force chaplains are Senior Chaplain (Col.) Curtis D. Linge with the Church of Christ and Protestant Chaplain (Capt.) Kenneth E. Fisher, endorsed by Liberty Baptist Fellowship.

Each chaplain, while on active duty is endorsed by his or her own denomination, of which there are more than 200 representing their groups in the United States Air Force, said Chaplain Fisher.

This three-person chaplain team is responsible for conducting more than 1,300 Air Force funerals over the past year and a half. Each chaplain has met with countless families and made the up to a mile-and-three-quarters march to a fallen member's final resting place many times.

The chaplains at Arlington receive updated lists of funeral services daily, said Chaplain Fisher. Once a chaplain has gotten his list, he contacts the family and offers his condolences and introduces himself as the chaplain who is in charge of the service.

If a family clergy is present, the chaplain works closely with that individual to ensure the needs of the family are met. The chaplain then greets the family on the day of the funeral and informs them of the sequence of events. In a full-honors funeral, the chaplain leads the caisson, body bearers and family members. Full honors consist of the ceremonial brass band, honor flight, caisson, body bearers, firing party, bugler and an Arlington Lady. Sometimes families arrange for a flyover and bagpiper to further honor of their loved ones.

Chaplain Black said it is rewarding being used by God to honor the nation's fallen patriots. Being chosen for such a position is a high honor across the Air Force, one for which each chaplain is thankful.

Of the greatest concern for the chaplains is that conducting so many funeral services on a daily basis could become emotionally challenging. Each chaplain develops his own coping mechanisms to ensure, regardless of any personal difficulties, that every Air Force family arriving at Arlington is met with the same high standard of compassionate care as those before them.

It is easy for the sights and sounds of military tradition to overshadow the passing member, Chaplain Black said. The point of the funeral is to honor the deceased member. Arlington National Cemetery is a beautiful place and all of the uniformed services present a proud and dignified look when performing each of their ceremonies.

In the end, the Air Force chaplains at Arlington National Cemetery perform a vital and noteworthy service to the deceased members and their families for their last military service. 

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Forc Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page