WASHINGTON - The Air National Guard recognized the accomplishments
of its top honor guard members here this week during its 2010 Outstanding
Airmen of the Year celebration.
The two honorees are: Master Sgt. Brian Mays from the 188th Fighter Wing of
the Arkansas Air National Guard as the Honor Guard Program Manager of the
Year; and Master Sgt. Velia Mireles of the Texas National Guard's 149th Force
Sustainment Services Flight as the Honor Guard Member of the Year.
"I have a good crew back at home, and without them, I wouldn't be here right
now," said Mays, who works full-time as the fund manager for his wing's
logistics squadron.
Shortly after 9/11, he joined his base honor guard at the suggestion of his
leadership.
"I never figured I would like it so much, or that it would be so rewarding,"
said Mays, who took the reins as honor guard program manager about a year
ago.
His team of nearly 30 honor guard volunteers is a 50-50 mix of traditional
Guardmembers and those who work on the base full-time.
Everybody serves on details when they can, he said, and as the program
manger, it's his job to fill detail requests and ensure training, uniforms
and equipment are up to high standards.
"I don't just sit back - I'm out there with them, as well as our
officer-in-charge, and others," he said.
An honor guard's duties can include pall bearer, firing party, color team,
the playing of taps, flag folding and flag presentations, among others.
Air Guard honor guard units at the states and territories provide those
honors in their regions, often to support requests and tasks from the active
duty Air Force.
A lot of times, Mays said they provide honors at funerals where they are the
only military member; often for the families of World War II, Vietnam and
Korean War veterans.
"A whole lot of people see them," said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Muncy,
command chief of the Air National Guard, who added that he makes it a point
to thank honor guard members for that extra amount of service and
volunteerism they perform.
"If they are Air Force or Army, I go talk to them and just tell them
'thanks,'" said Muncy. "They don't really have to do this program, and they
take so much pride and spirit in it."
"I'm really proud to be a part of it," said Mireles, about her honor guard
service in Texas.
Mireles works full-time for the Headquarters Security Forces Center on
Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where she supports operations for the
military's working dog program.
About nine years ago, she joined her team on Lackland and went through a
week's worth of training on how to post colors, how to fold the flag and how
to present the flag and other details, including the 21-gun salute.
"I thought I would enjoy it, and I liked it," she said.
She provided military funeral honors, presented the national flag at sporting
events, and setup and presented the POW/MIA table. She has also volunteered
for countless honor guard details at retirement ceremonies, base functions,
flag presentations and change of commands.
"It's one of the hats that I wear," she said. "I am also a mother, a student
and I work full-time in the military."
"For us to honor them makes the most sense in the world to me," said Muncy.
"If you read the [accomplishments] that they submitted from across the nation
- the amount of ceremonies and events that they have done are huge."