kens5.com
Posted on July 30, 2013 at 5:09 PM
Updated today at 6:00 PM
SAN ANTONIO ? Linda Ripley and her son Lee don?t even know the two 19-year-old men laid to rest near Section 26 of Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, but they visit them anyway.
They place two bouquets of red, white and blue carnations next to the stark white tombstones.
?We always wanted to make sure they have flowers on their graves and pay our respects to someone who had done service to their country,? Linda Ripley said.
The Ripleys are a military family. Army tradition is in their blood. And every two weeks, they visit Linda?s father who was buried at Fort Sam with full military honors.
?My dad did serve in the Vietnam War and the Korean War,? she said.
But with sequestration, the U.S. military has reduced its honor guard presence at funerals. The Air Force?s most recent decision is to send an honor detail consisting of only two personnel for retired veterans.
Ripley said that decision?shortchanges the dead.
?Whether they died in the war or if it?s after ? the mere fact that they served, I think it is important that they get their just respect in their death,? she added.
Joint Base San Antonio is home to one of many honor guards that have been impacted by sequestration?s manpower issues.
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Historically, retirees laid to rest were given a detail of seven men, available to serve as pallbearers, deliver the flag to the family or to play taps.
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The reduction in personnel has Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery filling in the gap. The cemetery?s team of volunteers -- a military services detachment -- has stepped in to replace the missing honor guard.
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?If the family wants it, he?s going to get full military honors from the MSD guys,? said Pete Young, cemetery director.
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The volunteer detachment?s efforts have the respect of Lee Ripley, who just recently retired after his last tour of duty in Afghanistan.
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Sequestration may be saving money but Ripley asks: At what cost?
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?They did everything they needed to for their country. For them to come back and not get these honors would be a big disappointment to me,? Ripley said.
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The Air Force said active duty funeral honors are not affected by sequestration and will continue to be performed by a 20-person detail.
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