When did the military funeral ceremony change?

I was watching an episode of Law and Order this evening and I was shocked at what I saw.

 

The murder victim in this case was an Army veteran and was being buried with military honors.

 

After the folding of the flag and the presentation of that flag to the soldier's parents the soldier who had folded the flag walked across the field a ways and then put the tone arm of a record player on a record to play taps.  And there was no firing squad.

 

When I was first in the Air Force I was on the base rifle team at Selfridge Air Force Base.  We fired against marksman teams both civilian and military.

 

But members of the base rifle team also made up the firing squad at military funerals all over the State of Michigan.  And a bugle player from the band accompanied us.

 

After the presentation of the flag we fired three volleys of 7 shots (using blanks) at the command of the team leader (the eighth man).  And then the bugler played taps.

 

Don't military members deserve that honor anymore?  Can't our country afford that honor to our fallen soldiers and veterans?

 

Noel

Edited January 5, 20224 yr by birdguy

They still do it the right way where I'm from. Firing volleys, etc.

If they use a record player in certain other, misguided states, then, all I can say is, more power to 'em.  Glad I'm not there.

When my father passed back in 1996 I couldn't even get the Army to send an honor group. It was too cold they said. What I said to that officer can't be printed here.

 

Bill W.

6 hours ago, BillW said:

What I said to that officer can't be printed here.

I would have likely used those same words myself!

If it is a military funeral with honors, then all honors, be it the 21 gun salute and the playing of taps should be done for real!  No substitutions!