Serving with pride; what Honor Guard means to me

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ashleigh Chambers
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Blue Knights Honor Guard

The Altus Air Force Base Blue Knights Honor Guard's mission is to provide military funeral honors for Airmen past and present of the United States Air Force by providing Color Guard support throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas servicing a 37,000 square mile area of responsibility.

For me, Honor Guard provides a great sense of pride to honor the Airmen who served before us. Our job is to provide the family with final funeral rites for their loved one’s service and dedication to the military.

As for Color Guard, we stand confident and proud carrying ceremonial rifles and flags representing the Air Force to the local community by providing services for the presentation of Colors, parades, and other local events.

When I joined Honor Guard, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but it has made the biggest impact on me, and I am so grateful and blessed for the past 15 months. I joined the base Honor Guard to get out of my comfort zone and try something new.

While in Honor Guard, I have made lifetime friends that I would have not met otherwise. The connections I made with others from different career fields helped how I view the Air Force as a whole and has made me realize that it’s something bigger than ourselves. Being able to present the flag to the next of kin is truly an honor knowing that my performance is their last good memory of their loved one.

Since joining Honor Guard, it has reestablished my pride as an Airman and it has given me the opportunity to excel as a leader and has been one of the best experiences so far in my career.