By Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the nation pauses this Memorial Day to remember fallen service members, a native of Dothan, Alabama, has special responsibilities honoring fallen comrades in the nation’s capital with the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amber A. Weingart, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Established in 1931, the United States Navy Ceremonial Guard is the official Ceremonial Unit of the U.S. Navy and is based at Naval District Washington Anacostia Annex in Washington, D.C.
According to Navy officials, the Ceremonial Guard's primary mission is to represent the Navy in Presidential, Joint Armed Forces, Navy and public ceremonies under the scrutiny of the highest-ranking officials of the United States and foreign nations, including royalty.
Sailors of the Ceremonial Guard are hand selected while they are attending boot camp at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. Strict military order and discipline, combined with teamwork, allow the Ceremonial Guard to fulfill their responsibilities with pride and determination. They are experts in the art of close order drill, coordination and timing.
Growing up in Dothan, King attended Ridgecrest Christian School and graduated in 2017. Today, King uses skills and values similar to those learned in Dothan.
“I learned to work hard,” asid King. “My dad didn't allow laziness, that has served me well in the Navy.”
These lessons continue to help King while serving in the military.
The Ceremonial Guard is comprised of the drill team, color guard, casket bearers and firing party.
Casket bearers carry the Navy's past service members to their resting ground. Whether it is in Arlington National Cemetery, or another veteran's cemetery. The firing party renders the 21 Gun Salute, the signature honor of military funerals, during every Navy Funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.
Serving in the Navy means King is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“We maintain a strong force in the world's oceans which helps keep everyone safe here back home,” said King.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
King and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I have participated in 1,500 military funerals,” said King. “I think being able to help honor the deceased helps show their families they served an important purpose for our nation and that helps bring them some peace.”
As King and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy is an opportunity for me to step back and see myself as part of something bigger than myself,” added King.