Bill Text: HI HCR40 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 40 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Air Force; Veterans; Retirees; Funerals; Three-Volley Salutes

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)

Status: (Passed) 2016-04-20 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HCR40 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HCR40-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	40
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PROVIDE EIGHT-PERSON FIRING PARTIES (SEVEN MEMBERS AND THE FIRING PARTY NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE) AT THE FUNERALS OF ALL AIR FORCE VETERANS AND RETIREES WHO WERE DISCHARGED OR RELEASED UNDER CONDITIONS OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE.

WHEREAS, veterans and retirees of the United States Air Force stood ready to defend and protect our nation; and

WHEREAS, those veterans and retirees also stood as protectors of the lives and freedoms of individuals from other nations who could not fight for themselves; and

WHEREAS, proper respect should be paid to those veterans and retirees after they pass away; and

WHEREAS, the Air Force Instruction (AFI) 34-242, ordered by the Secretary of the Air Force, establishes that deceased active duty Air Force members shall receive full military funeral honors, including eight-person firing parties (seven members and the firing party Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) that engage in three-volley salutes, which consist of firing blank cartridges into the air three times; and

WHEREAS, with regard to deceased Air Force veterans, AFI 34-242 only requires teams of two persons to provide military honors, and does not require the Air Force to provide three-volley salutes; and

WHEREAS, with regard to deceased Air Force retirees, AFI 34-242 authorizes Air Force Commanders to provide teams of up to seven persons to provide military honors, but only requires the Air Force to provide two-person teams, and does not require the Air Force to provide three-volley salutes; and

WHEREAS, until December 1, 2015, the 15th Wing Honor Guard of the United States Air Force provided Air Force veterans and retirees laid to rest in Hawaii with 7-person funeral details that would provide the deceased with ceremonial military honors; and

WHEREAS, the 647th Force Squadron of the United States Air Force announced in a memorandum effective December 1, 2015, that the 15th Wing Honor guard would reduce veteran and retiree funeral details from seven-person details to three-person details, comprised of two individuals who would fold and present the internment flag and one who would play Taps; and

WHEREAS, Air Force veterans and retirees, even after they have passed away, deserve the full honor and respect of the United States of America and its citizens; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the Senate concurring, that the Secretary of the Air Force is requested to amend AFI 34-242 and provide eight-person firing parties (seven members and the firing party Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) at the funerals of all Air Force veterans and retirees who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of the Air Force; the Commander of the Pacific Air Forces; the Commander of 15th Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; the Commander of the 647th Force Support Squadron; the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation; the Adjutant General; and the Director of the Office of Veterans' Services.