Memorial Day weekend is often seen as marking the first of Maine's few warm-weather holidays, often with trips to favorite summer spots across Maine. But more importantly, it is a solemn federal holiday to honor and remember those that have died while serving. And for numerous men and women in the Maine National Guard, it is another opportunity to perform a final salute to fallen service members.

For the Maine Army and Air National Guard's military funeral honors teams, every day is Memorial Day. They have the distinct honor of performing this service at locations across the state throughout the year. In all, the Maine National Guard performs hundreds of military funeral honors for veterans each year.

"We know how important this service is to the family and friends of the veteran," said Staff Sgt. Michael White, noncommissioned officer in charge for the Maine Army National Guard Honor Guard. "That sense many have to honor and remember on Memorial Day is what our teams feel when we take part in a funeral, and it is our way of honoring their service every day."

The custom of military funeral honors formally began in World War I, and was provided in a somewhat limited basis, oftentimes when staffing permitted. This changed in 2001 with the National Defense Authorization Act. It mandated the rendering of military honors during funerals for any eligible veteran. This service is typically requested by families through funeral directors. Funeral directors then reach out to the appropriate military branch to coordinate the funeral service.

"This is final closure from part of the service members past; it was part of who they were and how they will be remembered," said Sr. Airman Samantha Houston, assistant noncommissioned officer in charge for the Maine State Honor Guard of the Air National Guard. "With what we do, we are giving back to veterans, and we take great pride in doing this."

The Maine National Guard formally began its military funeral honors program, also refered to as honor guard, in 2004 and has collectively provided more than 20,000 services between the Army and Air Guard teams. About one in ten adults in the state have served in the military, making Maine one of the highest veteran populations per capita.The Air Force has fewer veterans in the state compared to the Army. On a national scale, the Air Force has always had fewer authorized personnel than the Army.

"I am incredibly proud of our men and women who perform military funeral honors for Maine's veterans, and it was important for them to continue this service during the pandemic," said Maj. Gen. Douglas A. Farnham, Maine's adjutant general. "Their compassion, dedication, and selfless service exemplifies the backbone of the Maine National Guard. While the work these individuals perform is never about them, it is important to recognize them for their outstanding and oftentimes emotional work."

Over the years, the number of these services performed has fluctuated, and was impacted significantly by COVID-19. Fewer than 800 services were provided by the Maine Army and Air National Guard combined in 2020, services that followed the required precautions of team members wearing masks and social distancing. In 2019 there were about 1,000 services, and roughly 1,100 in 2018. The most services provided in one year for the Army Guard teams came in 2011 when 1,351 services were performed. Air Guard honors were most requested in 2015 when they provided 280 services.

"The frequency of when we conduct these details increases around Memorial Day and holds steady throughout the summer," said White, who has been involved with the military honors funeral program since 2014. "The nearest active duty Army post is Fort Drum, NY, so we're the only resource available to serve our fallen army veterans anywhere in the state."

Funeral directors contact either the Army or Air Guard honor guard coordinators for fallen veterans of the Army and Air Force who served on active duty, in the National Guard, or in the reserves. Some requests are provided to active duty counterparts. Hanscom Air Force Base is Maine's closest active duty Air Force installation, located in western Massachusetts. They rely on the Air Guard's Maine State Honor Guard to provide support to the majority of the requests.

"The Air Guard performed about 200 of these services last year," said Houston, who is in her second year on the Air Guard's team. "We are anticipating that, when COVID precautions are loosened, we will be requested more frequently by families who have elected to wait. There are already 238 Air Force services scheduled this year."

The Army Guard has ten members who are assigned to perform these duties full time, with another ten who provide the service as needed. The Air Guard has two staff assigned full time, with about thirty trained volunteers available. The requests can be for services anywhere within the state, and members know that weekends, especially during the summer, will be spent performing this duty.

When the teams are not taking part in a funeral, they are practicing every detail of the service. From the team's movement into position, the execution of various commands, the playing of taps, the volley of the rifles, and the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag, each member has spent hours rehearsing. Both the Army and Air Guard have members who participated in formal training to serve as trainers for their teams in Maine.

"Making sure we conduct these services with precision and professionalism is of the utmost importance," said White. "The more we practice and train, the better we honor our fallen servicemembers."

"It really is an honor for us to do this," added Houston. "Our work is not about us, it's about being there for the family and providing this service with the respect their loved one deserves."

As Memorial Day weekend arrives, and we make plans to honor the fallen in our own way, members of the Maine National Guard military funeral honors teams will be too, just as they do every day.