Memorial Honor Detail
A Memorial Honor Detail is assigned by direction of the Department Of DeFence to perform final military honors at the burial/committal of a deceased veteran of the United States Armed Forces. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and the Coast Guard. Burial in the National Cemetery system is also afforded to other persons in accordance with Federal law.
Every veteran who served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States of America deserves a proper burial at the venue of his or her choice. This includes the presentation of full military honors, flag folding, rifle salute and the playing of taps. In addition the spouse and in special cases the children of a veteran can be buried in the same grave. The National Cemetery Administration part of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs operates 130 National Cemeteries in 39 states.
Riverside National Cemetery
Semper Fi #1 is one of the Memorial Honor Details of the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California which is located adjacent to the March Air Reserve Base. Currently there are 27 individual details of which Semper Fi #1 is MHD #15. The unit is a 501(c)3 corporation with an elected Board of Directors who serve a two year term.
The group was formed in 1997 by Master Sergeant Wes Morret, USMC(ret), and seven others who were determind to ensure that every veteran of the United States Military establishment, including the U.S. Coast Guard, is afforded final military honors upon request.
In 1995 due to the closure of some of our military bases and the downsizing of others, the rendering of military honors for deceased veterans being interred at the Riverside National Cemetery had become almost non-existent for more than a year.
A small group of concerned veterans decided that it was time to do something AbOUT this lack of final honors for their fallen comrades and the Memorial Honor Detail (MHD) was founded. An executive committee was formed and team recruitment began immediately, primarily from existing veterans organizations` Honor Details and Color Guards.
In May of 1996 the Memorial Honor Detail began providing services at the Riverside National Cemetery with only 3 teams and 2 dispatchers. Today the MHD provides services every working day of the month and is comprised of over 500 volunteers, including 28 teams, 9 dispatchers, 2 qualified armor’s and a 14 member board of directors.
The all volunteer unit is composed of veterans of the United States Marine Corps including active, reserve, retired and honorably discharged veterans who are entitled to wear the uniform for ceremonial purposes. Members provide their own uniforms and equipment at their own expense. The unit performs services once per month on the second Friday providing two teams; "Scarlet" and "Gold". Services are performed for all veterans regardless of branch. Beginning in 2010, The "Green" team will perform services on the 4th Thursday.
Military honors begin with the team escorting the casket or cremains to the shelter. The senior team member introduces the team and commands, "Bugler, Sound Attention!" Next the rifle team leader commands the assigned riflemen and delivers the 3-volley salute. Taps is then played by the bugler. When available, a bagpiper plays various songs including "Amazing Grace" as the flag is folded and prepared for delivery to the family. In the case of a deceased U.S. Marine, a poem is read and the Marine Corps Hymn is played. The family is given a certificate from U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack. Finally the team reassembles and departs while the funeral service is completed.
MEMORIAL HONOR DETAIL TEAMS AT RIVERSIDE NATIONAL CEMETERY
TEAM 1: NORWALK AMERICAN LEGION POST 359, NORWALK
TEAM 2: AMERICAN LEGION POST 53, HEMET
TEAM 3: DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, ALHAMBRA CHAPTER #22
TEAM 6: VICTOR VALLY HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, VICTORVILLE
TEAM 9: ORANGE COUNTY FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION, BRANCH #175 (RETIRED)
TEAM 11: VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 2266, SAN JACINTO
TEAM 12: ROBERT J. “UNCLE BOBBY” CASTILLO HONOR DETAIL, AMERICAN LEGION POST 79, RIVERSIDE
TEAM 15: SEMPER FI, MARINE CORPS VETERANS SCARLET, BLUE & GOLD Teams
Semper Fi #1, Team #15 as of December 31st, 2009 is composed of 65 persons and has performed more than 27,089 volunteer hours and 1597 services in its more than 12 year history. More information and pictures of the unit can be found at http://www.againtheyserve.org.
TEAM 17: HEMET HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, HEMET
TEAM 18: VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 8680, RANCHO CUCAMONGA
TEAM 19: VISTA HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, VISTA
TEAM 20: ELSINORE HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, LAKE ELSINORE
TEAM 21: ALL FORCES VOLUNTEERS - CHUCK PARRA
All Forces Honor Guard, Team #21 as of November, 2009 has 20 members and has performed over 20,859 volunteer hours and over 1570 services in its twelve year history. This unit represents all of the Military Services in uniform. Their web site can be found at http://www.allforceshonorguard.com
TEAM 22: AMERICAN LEGION POST 848, SAN JACINTO
TEAM 25: U. S. ARMY MEMORIAL HONOR DETAIL, RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO
TEAM 29: AMERICAN LEGION POST 72, ANAHEIM
TEAM 31: 3RD HONOR DETACHMENT
TEAM 34: CORONA HIGH SCHOOL NAVY JR. ROTC, CORONA
TEAM 35: U. S. ARMY VOLUNTEER RESERVE
TEAM 38: AIR FORCE VETERANS
TEAM 40: VETERANS OF FOREIGH WARS POST 184, RIVERSIDE
TEAM 42: SULTANA HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC
TEAM 43: AMVETS POST 2 (RETIRED)
TEAM 44: CRESCENTA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR. ROTC, LA CRESCENT
TEAM 45: SOBOBA VFW POST 12020
TEAM 46: WEST COVINA JR. ROTC
TEAM 47: INLAND VETS
TEAM 48: HESPERIA HIGH SCHOOL JROTC
TEAM 49: U. S. NAVAL SEA CADETS, MARB
Other service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Marine Corps League, to name a few, provide these services to ensure that every family who requests a service is provided a team. Retired and member who die on active duty are provided services by the appropriate branch. It is the responsibility of the presiding mortuary to make notifications and requests on the family's behalf.