MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025, IS MEMORIAL DAY, a somber remembrance for those who died in battle, those who fought to preserve our freedom. Back in 1976 - 1978, I had the honor and privilege to serve as the NCO-In-Charge of the Survivor Assistance Office at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, which served all of Northern California and the State of Nevada.
Our mission
was multi-faceted and included the following:
(1) Maintain a “duty roster” of officers who were to be sent, via a detail of two, directly to the homes of fallen soldiers, to personally notify their families of the tragedy.
(2) Provide “survivor assistance” to the next-of-kin, which included initiating their paperwork for any monetary benefits, etc.
(3) Provide a funeral detail for each internment (the act of burying a deceased person's body or cremated remains in a grave, tomb, or columbarium), consisting of several soldiers (or airmen from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, depending on where the soldiers were to be buried).
These details included a bugler to play “Taps”; a firing party of 7 soldiers, with each firing 3 shots, resulting in a total of 21 rounds for the traditional “21-Gun Salute”; and two soldiers to remove and properly fold the American flag that covered the casket after "Taps" was played, which they were to present to the next-of-kin as a keepsake. (The folding of the flag is a ceremonial process, with each fold representing a symbolic meaning, and is a way of honoring the service member's service.)
It was a hard job on many levels; yet, very rewarding, because – in addition to my regular duties – I also provided emotional support to myriad grieving widows and widowers who came to our office during my two years there. I often served as a “shoulder to cry on,” and even cried with some of them as they mourned the loss of their loved ones.
I am so grateful to ADONAI for the huge honor and privilege He allowed me to experience by serving my fellow soldiers and their family members during one of the worst times of their lives!
(Below are some photos of our visitation to the local Fallen Veterans' Memorial.)
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