HG needs Airmen

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Craig Lowery
  • Honor Guard Officer in Charge
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  As the Officer in Charge of the Vance Air Force Base Honor Guard, I look at the 18 valuable members of my team. These sharp, highly dedicated, volunteer Airmen and NCOs brave the harsh elements to pay tribute to veterans, retirees and active duty military personnel who have faithfully served our country. Many have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
Recently, nine of Team Vance's ambassadors in blue stood tall and proud in the face of subfreezing temperatures, a fierce 25 mile-per-hour wind and rain to honor a retired Air Force member who had given more than 20 years of his life to defend our great land.
I personally want to thank each member of the honor guard for what you do ... you are truly the foundation upon which our team stands! In my 10 years of military service, I have served on base honor guards at Tinker AFB, Okla., Whiteman AFB, Mo., and now here. I can honestly say I know what it means to honor those who have proudly served and defended the United States of America.
I truly believe the Honor Guard Creed sums up what it means to honor those members who have so graciously given years of their lives to serve.
For the members of the Vance AFB Honor Guard, it also means you conduct yourself according to the Honor Guard Creed:
Handpicked to serve as a member of the honor guard, my standards of conduct and level of professionalism must be above reproach, for I represent all others in my service.
Others earned the right to wear the ceremonial uniform, one that is honored in rich tradition and history. I will honor their memory by wearing it properly and proudly.
Never will I allow my performance to be dictated by the type of ceremony, severity of the temperature or size of the crowd. I will remain superbly conditioned to perfect all movements throughout every drill and ceremony.
Obligated by my oath I am constantly driven to excel by a deep devotion to duty and a strong sense of dedication.
Representing every member, past and present, of the United States Air Force, I vow to stand sharp, crisp and motionless, for I am a Ceremonial Guardsman.
The first time you take the flag from a casket, crisply fold it with your white-gloved hand molding each razor sharp edge, present it to the spouse who has also sacrificed much for the sake of the military member, and then have that spouse thank you for your sincere dedication, this is when the terms "service and honor" will send a chill up your spine. At this moment you'll have a good sense of what it means to serve with honor and dignity. Serving those past and present warriors means you highly respect the service this individual has given to the United States of America. It also means you truly abide by the U.S. Air Force Core Values of Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All You Do.
The Vance Honor Guard is currently undermanned. Presently, 18 fine Vance AFB Airmen are on the team, but the team needs about 30 personnel to function. The honor guard is looking for sharp, outstanding Airmen, NCOs and even senior NCOs to be a part of our elite team. We train at 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month at Bldg. 312. If you're interested, call me at 7030 or the NCO in charge, TSgt Minda Gates, at 7307.