CAP and funeral honors for veterans

[RiverAux]

As many of you know, veterans of WWII and Korea have been dying in large numbers in recent years and vets from the Vietnam era are starting to go as well.  And of course, we have lost a lot of servicemen and women in the wars we are still fighting. 

Unfortunately, the military just doesn't have the manpower to provide all the personnel needed to provide full military honors when requested.  Many organizations are involved in trying to meet these needs including the VFW, some State Defense Forces, and others. 

According to the AF Times, one thing in very short supply is live buglers.  http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/11/111109gan_buglers/
They are only available at 19% of funerals with fake bugles and CD recordings being used for the rest. 

There is an organization called Bugles Across America that provides volunteers to meet that need, but they don't have nearly enough volunteers.

I know that CAP has sometimes been involved in veterans funerals. I know of one CAP Chaplain who was asked by a local AFB to perform the service at one military funeral and I'm fairly sure I remember seeing items about honor guards and the like on CAP News Online in the past.

But, what do you think of making this more of an official CAP program?  I'm not sure how to make it "official" other than some sort of regulation outlining what CAP members can do in these situations.  I don't think we need to start up some sort of independent program that would "compete" with the other organizations doing this, but instead work with them.  For example, having some sort of way to designate someone as an official CAP bugler, authorize them to participate in such services in uniform, and then sign them up as a Bugles Across America volunteer and let them do the actual coordination (actually you get your name on a list and the person requesting the bugler searches for and finds you). 

I believe that this would legitimately fall under two of our 6 congressionally-manded purposes:

Encourage and develop by example the voluntary contribution of private citizens to the public welfare.

and

To assist the Department of the Air Force in fulfilling its non-combat programs and missions

It wouldn't be that far from what we're doing already with the Wreaths Across America program (which uses a bugler, by the way). 

[Al Sayre]

I think it's a good idea, and I've got one guy in my squadron that is a bugler & has been talking about just that.  Unfortunately he's one of those who just threw away $300 on a uniform he can no longer wear, and I hoping I don't lose him completely...

[Airrace]

I agree it would be a good idea.

[Airrace]

Maybe the military could supply the uniform!

[Tubacap]

I also think this is an outstanding idea.  How, does one propose an entirely new program?

[RogueLeader]

Write it up, think of every reason possible to disallow it, then greate a control measure to counter-act that reason; and finally shoot it up the chain of command.

[Ned]

Several years ago CP took a close look at allowing Cadet Honor Guards to support funeral services for veterans.

While it was easy to imagine a high speed group of 16-20 year old cadets performing these duties in an outstanding manner, we were concerned that it would be hard to set and enforce quality standards nationwide.

On the other hand, it is not hard to imagine that a less-experienced crew of younger cadets might not be as well received by the deceased veteran's famiily and loved ones.

Accordingly, we could not see an alternative to somehow vetting and "licensing" individual honor guards.  And that was problematic.

I would assume using seniors or a mixed senior/cadet unit would have similar issues.

[NCRblues]

I actually participated in a funeral as a cadet. The veteran who passed away was also a very active member of CAP. He still had his army honor guard, but his family asked the cadets to be pallbearers. So we carried the casket and placed it on the pedestal then the army honor guard took over for the flag and weapon salute with taps. The army really appreciated it because due to deployments they were down a few people so less they had to scramble the better.

[RiverAux]

I was really thinking primarily of buglers rather than full-blown honor guards.  Given that many funerals take place during school hours, any cadet participation would be fairly limited.  I also doubt that there would be very many seniors interested in doing a full team.  However, I wouldn't preclude either though.

[Major Carrales]

As many of you know, veterans of WWII and Korea have been dying in large numbers in recent years and vets from the Vietnam era are starting to go as well.  And of course, we have lost a lot of servicemen and women in the wars we are still fighting. 

Unfortunately, the military just doesn't have the manpower to provide all the personnel needed to provide full military honors when requested.  Many organizations are involved in trying to meet these needs including the VFW, some State Defense Forces, and others. 

According to the AF Times, one thing in very short supply is live buglers.  http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/11/111109gan_buglers/
They are only available at 19% of funerals with fake bugles and CD recordings being used for the rest. 

There is an organization called Bugles Across America that provides volunteers to meet that need, but they don't have nearly enough volunteers.

I know that CAP has sometimes been involved in veterans funerals. I know of one CAP Chaplain who was asked by a local AFB to perform the service at one military funeral and I'm fairly sure I remember seeing items about honor guards and the like on CAP News Online in the past.

But, what do you think of making this more of an official CAP program?  I'm not sure how to make it "official" other than some sort of regulation outlining what CAP members can do in these situations.  I don't think we need to start up some sort of independent program that would "compete" with the other organizations doing this, but instead work with them.  For example, having some sort of way to designate someone as an official CAP bugler, authorize them to participate in such services in uniform, and then sign them up as a Bugles Across America volunteer and let them do the actual coordination (actually you get your name on a list and the person requesting the bugler searches for and finds you). 

I believe that this would legitimately fall under two of our 6 congressionally-manded purposes:

Encourage and develop by example the voluntary contribution of private citizens to the public welfare.

and

To assist the Department of the Air Force in fulfilling its non-combat programs and missions

It wouldn't be that far from what we're doing already with the Wreaths Across America program (which uses a bugler, by the way).

I am a musician, and have been asked to play TAPS on occasion.  In fact, our cadets are presenting the colors at a sister school (a local elementary school) tomorrow at a ceremony and I have been asked to play TAPS for the occasion.

[biomed441]

I would support a CAP program in this area. I too am a musician, and have been playing trumpet for nearly 15 years.  I would see no greater honor than to play TAPS for a veteran if asked to do so.  I don't think we could ever make up for the unfortunate increase in demand for these services, but to help in any way I think would be a great addition to the culture of CAP.

My Grandfather just passed. I attended his funeral just this last Friday, and was dissapointed that he was not able to recieve the honors he deserved for defending our nation in WWII.  Instead we had a priest who was more concerned about his own confessions, than to memorialize a great hero.  I hope this never has to happen to anyone else.  If CAP can fill a gap, even a small one, it would be better than doing nothing. 

[JK657]

Sounds like a good VSAF opportunity... just get authorization to wear the AF style uniform and you are good to go

[Tubacap]

Would a program like this fall better under Bugler's Across America or DoD?

[RiverAux]

I don't see it as something that would be done as an AFAM under our current system - WMIRS just isn't set up for this sort of individual mission.  Plus, its almost an act of congress to do something in direct support of the AF right now.  It probably should be done as an AFAM, but its not practical until they change the system significantly.   

So, I would think of it more as a corporate event like community parades and the like. 

[CPT Anderson]

Being a cadet program person forever and a day, and active duty military and recently retired, I don't think this is a good idea for all areas of the country.  Being that I live in a military town, most of the cadets here parents are in the military and we all have to deal with death somehow, I think it might traumatize some of the cadets, but it's just my opinion.

http://www.facebook.com/CPTChelle?cropsuccess#/album.php?aid=2036947&id=1555647028   <-----Pix from the Ft. Hood Memorial

[CPT Anderson]

Maybe the military could supply the uniform!

Good luck with that!  They won't DX my uniforms that sucked when I got them!!!