Robins honor guard given new caskets for training

Having new equipment helps everyone -- even if the equipment happens to be caskets.

With worn-out caskets that had to be duct-taped and nearly glued together, the Robins Honor Guard had to make do. Three handles were broken on one, the end on the other was broken, and both were locked shut.

A year ago, though, Master Sgt. Matthew Hurless wanted to try to raise some money to buy new caskets to help train new members.

"The airmen deserve something nicer to hone their skills," he said.

He called two local funeral homes to ask about purchasing one and they each offered to give the Honor Guard brand new caskets. With the addition of the two new caskets, both of which open, the guard is able to train more effectively.

"They're perfect. We put weights in them to get a realistic feel when they have to do a detail," Hurless said.

An Honor Guard member serves for 180 days and practices about five hours out of each day to perfect the specific moves during a military funeral service. During the first few weeks, guard members sometimes get blisters from holding the rifles because they have to practice so much with them.

"Receiving the caskets from the funeral homes is important for our airmen not only because they know what the mission was but also so they can train on equipment that is new and current," said Tech Sgt. Juan Garcia, Robins Honor Guard flight sergeant.

The two caskets are the same model, though one is blue and one is gray.

"That they were given by community members makes it even more special," he said.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Robins honor guard given new caskets for training ."