Funeral Honors Detail goes above and beyond Published April 13, 2011 By Chief Petty Officer Mark Mihalko Naval Support Activity Lakehurst JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- On any given morning, you can hear the words of the Sailors Creed echo throughout the work centers that fill Lakehurst. This small gesture is a subtle reminder to all of the dedicated Sailors of what it means to serve in the worlds finest Navy. This creed is the backbone of who we were, who we are and who we are going to be as our careers continue to shine. Simply, the creed embodies the spirit of the Navy. "I am a United States Sailor. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me. I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world. I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment. I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all. No team or division exemplifies our creed more than the Naval Support Activity Lakehurst Funeral Honors Detail. This unit, comprised of 12 Sailors goes above and beyond the scope of their duties on a daily basis, performing an average of six funerals a week, with many falling on off duty hours. For the most part this is a thankless and unrewarding job, spending time by rendering funeral honors for families at their most vulnerable time. Yet, these Sailors continually perform their duties in an exemplary manner, often going unnoticed until the rare occasion when something goes awry. Fortunately, this is not always the case. There are times when even the simplest of gestures and unassuming acts provide the single element thanks and motivation to keep this team moving. On March 16, one of the details was departing a funeral in Toms River when they happened to notice a funeral with a lone flag draped over the casket. Without hesitation, this unit comprised of Second Class Casey Klein, hull technician, Second Class Juanita Powell, boatswain's mate and Airman Timothy Burrows, aviation support equipment technician knew what to do and what they had to do for the family of that fallen hero. While this fallen servicemember was not a Navy veteran, the team looked past that issue of protocol and offered their services as a funeral detail to the family, to render the funeral honors that all servicemembers deserve. For it was, and is, the sacrifice that all veterans, regardless of branch, have made to our great country to ensure freedom reigns supreme. These actions, while second nature to the team, exemplify the Navy core values and the Sailors Creed. More importantly, it shows that honorable services across all branches have no bounds. Yes, differences in protocol and job descriptions exist, but at the end of the day, we are all veterans of the U.S. and should view each other as such. These three Sailors understand that belief and their dedication is evident. In the end, it is clear that they have demonstrated the selflessness that not only makes our Navy strong, it makes our country stronger and for that they deserve a giant thank you.