Ellsworth Honor Guard open house

(left) Airman 1st Class Charles White, Ellsworth Honor Guard member, stands ready to perform drill during an honor guard open house here, Sept. 25. The open house showcased skills of the Ellsworth Honor Guard team, educated attendees about honor guard functions and served to recruit new honor guard members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Corey Hook)

Ellsworth Honor Guard holds open house

Published Sept. 29, 2008
By Airman Corey Hook
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The Ellsworth Honor Guard showcased their skills during an open house, Sept. 25. The open house served as an invitation for base personnel to observe the team's expertise and was the first hosted at Ellsworth.

"This open house creates awareness of the importance of the honor guard," said Staff Sgt. Ruben TrejoSanchez, Ellsworth Honor Guard NCO in charge. "We are looking to have an open house once a year."

The Honor Guard simulated a funeral during the event to demonstrate one of the main services they offer.

"The honor guard's open house performances displayed the importance of educating the base population about the hours of training which go into the intricate details of each performance," said Col. Scott Vander Hamm, 28th Bomb Wing commander.

Ellsworth Air Force Base's honor guard team is completely volunteer-based.

"We are looking toward recruiting more people to the team," said Senior Airman Thomas Heinen, Ellsworth Honor Guard member. "Keeping the numbers up is very important."
Personnel interested in joining the honor guard team or those with questions about ceremony assistance, should contact Sergeant TrejoSanchez at (605) 385-1186.