Honor in serving

  • Published
  • By Maj. James Crawford
  • 9th Maintenance Operations Squadron
The legendary speech given in the halls of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in May 1962 by Gen. Douglas MacArthur can be quoted verbatim by many avid military history buffs. Sadly, fewer of us can just remember a three word excerpt - Duty, Honor, Country. He articulately wove his words into an example, a moral code for those serving in the profession of arms of this great country.

Over time, there are many influences ranging from the economy, religion and societal morphing which impact our beliefs and values causing change. Arguably, the national reverence regarding "Duty and Country" does not have the same meaning today. Forced drafts, the toll in human loss, and the expense of resources were just a few of the challenges pulling on the nation's sense of identity. Debating viewpoints or political interests notwithstanding, the views of the masses are not necessarily correct, wrong or in error. "Honor" however, is one word often overlooked.

The completion of a purpose as tasked by the national government is embodied in the actions of all who wear the uniform. Honor is a characteristic profoundly unique and dear to the military profession and birthed by the cost of human life. It is the sacrifices made by families. Known by its cost, ours is a profession to which few others outside the sphere of military service can relate. It is a profession of public service, paid for by the personal sacrifices of all those who served before us.

Honor begins the day we raise our right hand and commit to the verbal oath of service to our great nation. It continues throughout our careers. Whether we realize it or not, we usually fail to even acknowledge the notion while we are going about our daily routine. As we get the job done, we have those in our midst who step out from the routine. They render Honor above and beyond the capability of words alone. Our Honor Guard is a class of young men and women of their own, those whose standards are high, display endless dedication and humbling servitude.

We are accustomed to our Honor Guard posting the colors at our unit ceremonies and the like, but this is only a small portion of a much larger mission. They execute daily missions behind the scenes, and more often than not, we give little thought to their mission. Our teams carry out one last Honor to those who served the country as part of "the greatest generation."

Our Honor Guard repeatedly executes a mission above and beyond what one could ask of them. My personal experience serving with an Honor Guard detail will always remain an unmatched privilege. This brief moment in time was humbling. No one could be prouder being able to witness our personnel rendering a final tribute. Paying respect and one last Honor to those now gone for answering a call to duty can only be described as something awe inspiring, etched forever as an unequalled memory.

Theirs is a repeated and emotionally taxing duty as they know the weight on the families and loved ones. However, final Honor to service is overpowering. At no point in a career can one say you could have ever been prouder of our dedicated Airmen. The family's loss of words for this honor cannot be captured or held to a value. "Remarkably impressive" fails to adequately describe the level of tribute, the honor for one last mission. Our teams complete a life cycle, beginning and ending with Honor. Thank you to our Honor Guard Airmen who emulate and promote a legacy of honor.