It all began on Summerall Field of Fort Myer. Four artillery pieces placed – The “Big Guns of the Old Guard” were ready to celebrate America’s birthday in a big way – The sun shone brightly on Saturday, July 4th reflecting off the highly polished WW II vintage 3” anti-tank guns of the Presidential Salute Battery. The battery looking sharp in their dress blue uniforms stood at the ready as the time approached for the ceremony to begin for a 50 Gun Salute to the United States of America.
Marched into position by the NCOIC, SFC Calvin Flinta, Platoon Sergeant, the Soldiers of the Battery waited as the seconds ticked off. When it was exactly noon, SGT Chris Johnson the Officer in Charge issued the command “Fire!” The first round echoed as the smoke billowed from the barrel and 5 seconds later, the watchman called the second gun to fire. Then every 3 seconds another gun called to fire until all 50 “Salutes to the Nation” were fired.
The crowd watching applauded vigorously as the last echoes of the salutes and smoke drifted off. The Soldiers of this elite unit then marched off and got ready for “part 2” of the day’s celebration. The guns were then packed up and US Park Police escorted the entire caravan down to the US Capitol. Again the four gun battery was placed in position, where later that night, the Guns Platoon provided accompaniment for the Washington Symphony Orchestra.
Marched into position by Platoon Leader – CPT Ronald K. Vinyard, the battery once again stood at the ready waiting for the signal to fire. As the colors of the fireworks were filling the sky over the Washington Monument, the orchestra played the 1812 Overture at the Capitol 4th with the Presidential Salute Battery providing the appropriate gun salutes. The final salute was all four guns firing simultaneously.
Photos by John Michael
Happy Birthday America!
This article also appears
in
the 10 JUL 2009 issue
of
“The Pentagram”
with one of the photographs.
Posted 2 years, 10 months ago at 2:37 am. Add a comment
is the command that is issued at a military funeral to honor that veteran’s service to the United States of America. The origins of this tradition dates back to the US Civil War when casualties were high in warfare and rules were a bit different. Each side was allowed to remove their casualties from the battlefield. After which they “fired three volleys” to alert the other side that they were ready to resume the battle.
The seven Soldiers in the photo to the right are bearing weapons, which in this case are rifles. They are an example of continuing this tradition to honor one of their fallen. It just so happens that there are seven (led by an NCO), but there could be as few as two or as many as eight Soldiers. They are the ones who are ordered to “Fire three volleys” – simultaneously as commanded by the NCO…
The photo to the right is an example of a “GUN Salute” – The Soldiers of the Presidential Salute Battery (also known as “The Guns Platoon) are firing weapon systems, which in this case are WW II M5 – 3″ anti tank guns. The Soldiers manning the guns are “orchestrated” by a battery staff consisting of an Officer in Charge (OIC), a boardman, who counts the rounds fired & announces “Last Round”, two watchmen who call the guns to fire and a NCO in Charge (NCOIC) who controls the backup gun and marches the Soldiers on and off. I’ve seen them countless times firing gun salutes – at timed intervals – but only once saw them fire a “21 GUN SALUTE” for the
President on 20 JAN 2009 at the inauguration. I heard them fire a “21 GUN SALUTE” on Memorial Day upon the arrival and another on the departure of the President from Arlington National Cemetery. So you can imagine how “rare” a 21 GUN SALUTE is, which makes it so special.
I hope this clears up some of the confusion you might have and help to inform those who insist that they saw a 21 GUN SALUTE at the last military funeral that they attended.
Posted 2 years, 10 months ago at 11:38 pm. 1 comment
One of the most solemn and dignified ceremonies occurred in Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on that morning…
a full honors wreath ceremony
placed by
the Secretary of the Army, Honorable Pete Geren,
Chief of Staff of the Army, General George W. Casey Jr.
and
Sergeant Major of the Army, SMA Kenneth Preston.
Hosted by Commanding General of the Military District of Washington, Major General Richard J. Rowe Jr, the full honors included:
a complement of The US Army’s 3d Infantry -
The Old Guard,
The US Army Band, Pershing’s Own
and
Color Guard.
After the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, General Casey and Sergeant Major Preston visited each of the 24 former Chiefs of Staff and 2 Sergeants Major of the Army’s final resting places and placed a wreath in honor of their service to the United States of America.
General of the Armies & Former Chief of Staff General John J. Pershing’s gravesite
Posted 2 years, 11 months ago at 9:59 pm. Add a comment
Over the years, Arlington National Cemetery has become a very special place to me. I have spent countless hours exploring, learning and capturing in photographic memories some of the significance, the solemnity, the beauty of this National Shrine to those who have given so much.
Few days stand out as much as Memorial Day, for it is over that weekend that the US Army’s 3d Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard once again goes above and beyond by placing the US colors one boot length away in front of every grave stone in the cemetery.
Normally on this day, I’ll wait ’til after the formal ceremonies are over and movement around the cemetery is a bit easier as the President has left. This year, I was determined to actively participate and made it into the amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The sun was hot, but hidden by clouds most of the time, that later gave up some of their rain to add a bit of liquid sunshine to the day…
Off in the distance, the Presidential Salute Battery began firing the 21 Gun Salute, announcing the arrival of the President. So many times I’ve watched up close and personal the precise way that they execute their mission I could see in my mind’s eye, the watchman of the Battery calling each gun at precise 3 second intervals as each salute echoed through the hills of the cemetery.
One could then hear the commanders of the multi service honor guard call their troops to attention as the President approached the Tomb of the Unknown
After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, followed by a moment of silence, The bugler from the US Army’s Band – Pershing’s Own sounded Taps. Those 21 notes echoing among the open air of the moment.
President came into the amphitheater, preceded by the US Army Chaplain, Superintendent of of Arlington National Cemetery, Commanding General of the Military District of Washington and the Head of the Joint Chiefs’ of Staff.
The President addressed the standing room only crowd and shared his thoughts with those assembled.
Afterwards, I went among those assembled and spent some time with those I knew and made some new friends among the slowly vanishing crowd. As the crowd dispersed, I began my exploring to several sections among those that had given so much. I went to Section 13 which has a great number of Unknowns…
It’s hard to describe the feelings that run through when one considers that for each of these stones, marks a contribution that always cannot be measured, or in most cases cannot be repaid.
I’ll let the photos take you there…
“Preserving the memories, so others will remember…” ™
Posted 2 years, 12 months ago at 9:16 pm. 1 comment
I spent a few days in North Carolina at Fort Bragg and Fayetteville and had the privilege of meeting the HON Pete Geren, Secretary of the US ARMY. I thought it appropriate that he should have a copy of the inaugural regimental calendar, so I presented him one as a thank you for his service in such an important role with the soldiers and helping preserve the freedoms that we enjoy in the United States.
I was pleasantly surprized by the wonderful thank you note that I received this past week from him…
Posted 3 years, 1 month ago at 1:51 am. Add a comment
I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I went to Aberdeen and the US Army Ordnance Museum… which is where we left off from the last SAW installment. I had just spent the day at Mount Vernon partially with the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard who put on a wonderful display of “revolutionary” tactics and firing their “firelocks” AND The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
The following day was spent capturing another Presidential Salute Battery mission in Arlington National Cemetery. Finally on Wednesday, 18 FEB 2009, with snow flying, I headed North to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, current home of the US Army Ordnance Museum and it’s outstanding outdoor display of armor, artillery and…
My mission there was to further uncover the role that G M Barnes played in WW II and learn what I could about the WW I artillery piece known as the “French 75″ … I learned quite a bit since the resources at this museum’s library are extensive.
But let me back up a bit. Arriving on post for the first time I was unsure how to get to the museum (I need a GPS – donations welcome!) I slowly went by this large large – HUGE actually mortar that several people would slip inside the tube with no problem and then missed the turn for the museum’s entrance, but was given a shot of “ordnance eye candy” as I circled the outside collection. WOW, what a sight!
When I finally got around to the entrance of the museum building, I was pleasantly surprised to find an M5 out in front “guarding” the museum. It was painted its tactical color and was complete with the sights that were used to aim this gun. Despite the precipitation, which by this time had turned from frozen into liquid, I got the camera out and captured a few photographs before going inside.
Once inside, I was pleasantly greeted by a staff member and then taken to the library where I was showered with attention to my requests. I spent the morning going over the provided materials and relishing in the information that I was gleaning from these treasured tomes. The door I opened again leading me to at least 6 more for me to check behind. Seems that the French 75 was a rather remarkable artillery piece for its time and was a very impressive that GEN Pershing ordered the fired the first round (and 9,999 more) to be packed up and sent back to the United States. Its place of honor after being paraded around to show the American people what we had done is at the US Military Academy – West Point Museum in New York
To be continued….
Posted 3 years, 2 months ago at 12:13 pm. Add a comment
In 11 days, all the online locations for “The Old Guard on Parade – 2009″ calendar will be removed.
The calendar is a collector’s item, since this is the FIRST calendar about this historic regiment of the US ARMY — It’s the oldest active infantry regiment with over 200 years of history.
And the calendar will be history once the day of 31 MAR ends and it’ll disappear for sale. So if you haven’t bought one. Do it now. …. Thank you for your support.
Posted 3 years, 2 months ago at 4:04 am. Add a comment
Over the past ten years, I’ve been blessed to be called upon to participate and capture the final honors of many of those who have served the United States of America in military service. Most of those have been at Arlington National Cemetery, with several, (expenses paid … thank you!) in Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee. All of the honors ceremonies have been absolutely splendid – a fitting tribute to one who has devoted his/her life to maintain the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.
The men & women who execute these final honors are true professionals and perform their part without a flaw since they practice and practice and practice until it is just right. (Over the years, I’ve observed many drill sessions of various parts of the honors ceremonies.) Recently, for the first time in all these years, I witnessed something that’s very rare… extremely rare…
The re-folding of the US Colors …
It seems that if the first fold is not perfect, the remaining folds are going to be just a tad bit off. I watched as the folds continued and at the completion, the soldier struggled to get the end tucked inside to show a field of white stars on blue. I sensed there was something awry as the soldiers passed the folded colors up the rank to the officer. Presented with it, he held it for a brief time, but refused to take it from the soldier. The officer then removed his hands, and the soldier returned to begin unfolding the flag. As the folds once again revealed the red and white stripes, the soldiers once again folded ever so carefully and that “last tuck” wasn’t so hard this time.
When presented this time with the folded colors, the officer accepted the field of stars on blue…
And when he presented it to the next-of-kin, it was Perfect…
Posted 3 years, 2 months ago at 10:25 am. 1 comment
John Michael is a professional photographer living in the Washington DC area, who over the last decade has evolved into a dual role as a US military historian/student of military heraldry.
One distinctive hallmark of his work has been the photography of the final honors at Arlington National Cemetery & preparing a memorial book for the family or next of kin.
