Soldiers Joking in Photo Around Casket Spark Rage

[Scuba]

10. For most of 1971 and part of '72 I was assigned to the USAF Military Airlift Command Honor Guard ...

... the duty consisted largely of funeral flag bearer or rifle team, with the occasional parade thrown in.

As a result, I served at perhaps 150 military funerals during this period, all VietNam casualties. The funerals themselves were solemn occasions.

After the funerals, however, alcohol flowed freely, and I do mean freely. Typically once the 21-gun salute had sounded and the flag was folded and given to the next-of-kin, an older veteran would invite us to the local VFW or American Legion where we were given all the free booze we could drink. As you can imagine, there were more than a few moments that could be described as disrespectful.

Having been there, done that, I forgive these service men and women their transgression. Everyone else can go pound sand.