Military Funeral with Full Honors at Arlington National Cemetery

Last Wednesday I photographed an honors military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery at the request of the widow.

At an honors funeral the service member is brought to the grave site on a horse drawn cassion, the procession is followed by a riderless horse with boots reversed in the stirrups, receives a 21 gun salute, taps is played, and then the widow is presented with the folded flag that covered the casket.

Here are photos of the cassion and the riderless horse.

C&C are welcome. These were made at 3PM, no clouds, and high 90's. I used my 70-200MM f/4 EF L IS on on 30D and my 17-55MM EF-S IS on my dRebel XT...thanks,

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Here are two more photos.

The Firing Party giving the 21 gun salute...three volleys by the seven riflemen.

The bugler playing taps.

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May he rest in peace.

Moving photos, thanks for sharing. Our military men and women deserve all the honor we give them plus more.

that broke my heart. my hubby deployed sevearl times, and that deployment is the most stressful time of any wives life. you never know if that next phone call will be the last one, or any letter or email you get will be the last one. thank you for posting that. and thank you to all that support our troops.
shannon

RIP, brother...

shannyD wrote in post #3620052
that broke my heart. my hubby deployed sevearl times, and that deployment is the most stressful time of any wives life. you never know if that next phone call will be the last one, or any letter or email you get will be the last one. thank you for posting that. and thank you to all that support our troops.
shannon

Shanny,

You are welcome...

If you like Marines then check out my post in the Wedding Forum...link is below:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=342551

Please do not reply to this wedding post...it has "run its course" with great feedback

Enjoy,

All,

Thanks for the kind comments...with the war in Iraq, the WWII vets, and the Koren vets ANC is averaging 26 funerals a day. The full honors ceremony is a very moving event. America treats her fallen heros with dignity and style.

Thanks for posting your pictures! I spent a day at the Cemetary taking pictures one day and even though being in the military for 12.5yrs (which can make you insensitive, or should I say take things for granted) it still gave me the goose bumps and proud to be in the Navy and serving as all of the fallen had.

Excellent captures, particularly the first and last ones.

KAC

Navydave1974 wrote in post #3623999
Thanks for posting your pictures! I spent a day at the Cemetary taking pictures one day and even though being in the military for 12.5yrs (which can make you insensitive, or should I say take things for granted) it still gave me the goose bumps and proud to be in the Navy and serving as all of the fallen had.

kenyc wrote in post #3624214
Excellent captures, particularly the first and last ones.

KAC

Dave and Kenny,

Thanks...it is a beautiful place...so filled with history...

Dave, thank you for your service to our great Country.

I just saw this. Great series. A portrait of fallen hero. Anyone that has made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country is a hero and thanks for posting those images.

Very moving shots even.

Very moving series, well taken. I am sure the widow would be proud to keep these final memories of her fallen hero. Rip

airfrogusmc wrote in post #3624592
I just saw this. Great series. A portrait of fallen hero. Anyone that has made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country is a hero and thanks for posting those images.

Desertraptor wrote in post #3624683
Very moving shots even.

Mstar wrote in post #3626297
Very moving series, well taken. I am sure the widow would be proud to keep these final memories of her fallen hero. Rip

Thanks everyone for the comments.