Only the most “squared away” Sailors need apply.

That’s the unwritten code for Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point’s Honor Guard.

And for family members of deceased veterans, including those of WWII, Korea and the Vietnam era, the NHCCP’s Honor Guard’s Funeral Detail is probably the first time many of them have seen Sailors in dress uniforms in years. Everything must be perfect, from the placement of their white hats, to the roll of their neckerchiefs, to the laces on their shoes … no detail is too small.

“When we render Honors at a funeral, people don’t see a hospital corpsman from Cherry Point’s health clinic. They see United States Navy Sailors who have come to pay last respects to their loved one,” said Petty Officer First Class Kellen Holcomb, Honor Guard petty officer in charge.

“Just knowing that the Navy in which their loved one served cares enough to send a funeral detail brings a sense of pride and accomplishment to family members. They realize their loved one’s service is still appreciated years and even decades after the deceased’s service,” Holcomb said

NHCCP’s Honor Guard Funeral Detail attends funerals and other events in Eastern North Carolina. By its very nature, the Funeral Detail is an unpredictable business, but one the members of the Honor Guard accepts that as part of their duties.

“I am beyond grateful to perform funeral honors for families of veterans,” said Petty Officer Third Class Richard Burski, who works in NHCCP’s Radiology department. “Obviously, we can’t predict when the Funeral Detail will be called on, but my department head and shipmates understand the importance of our duties and are more than flexible in helping to adjust to our schedule. Every Sailor knows and believes the family of the deceased veteran comes first.”

For most funerals, the Honor Guard sends a detail of three Sailors; a head caller, who is in charge of the detail, a foot caller and a bugle player. During the flag folding ceremony, the head caller will stand by the head of the casket while the foot caller will be at the foot. Once they finish folding the flag, and if a superior officer is not at the service, the head caller will present the Colors to the family of the deceased.

The bugle player places the bugle to his lips and plays a pre-recorded version of Taps. The bugle is just for show but the music is still sobering. 

The well-choreographed routine takes endless hours of practice. The flag must be folded perfectly, the facing movements must be crisp. Military bearing must be maintained at all times.  

Petty Officer Second Class Cody Reiling helps put a final shine on an already outstanding group of Sailors. Reiling brings the tips he learned as a member of the Navy’s Ceremonial Guard in Washington, D.C., to the NHCCP Honor Guard.

“As part of the Navy’s Ceremonial Guard, our only job was representing the Navy at ceremonies and funerals. Our uniforms and movements had to be perfect at all times,” Reiling said. “I’m passing along the tips I learned in the Ceremonial Guard, such as tying neckerchiefs so that they are all uniform, the best way to iron uniforms, or perhaps little flourishes during movements that add to the ceremony.”

Recently, the NHCCP Honor Guard was asked to conduct a dignified transfer, or homecoming, for a deceased Sailor, a ceremony which requires a six-man detail. “Since that’s something I did everyday as part of the ceremonial guard, we were able to handle the request,” Reiling said. “I was able to get a local funeral home to loan us a casket and we practiced the movements we would need to get the casket from the plane to the hearse.”

“Every time we go to a funeral it’s really touching when family members come up to us to express their appreciation,” Holcomb said. “You can see it in their eyes how much our being there meant to them.”

“If you had told me how hard this collateral duty would be prior to my joining, I still wouldn’t have hesitated to roger up my services.” Burski said.

Named after Medal of Honor recipient, Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class William D. Halyburton, the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point provides high-quality patient care to more than 20,000 active-duty members and Department of Defense beneficiaries. In addition to outpatient surgical services, NHCCP offers Medical Home Port (including family care and pediatrics), dermatology, internal medicine, orthopedics, physical therapy, mental health, pharmacy services, preventive medicine, aviation medicine and
radiology to include MRIs.

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