USS Shoup (DDG 86) had the honor of burying 22 veterans and dependents on July 15 while sailing through the Puget Sound.
The ceremony took place on the flight deck. A few prayers along with a funeral song were the opening portion of an age-old custom.
The honor guard then ceremoniously picked up an urn in as each person’s name was called out. The Honor Guard marched past Shoup’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryant Trost, and Command Master Chief Richard Mengel, who saluted the procession as they made their way toward the executive officer, Cmdr. Jeffrey Sturm. Sturm would then salute the honor guard before receiving the urn and scattering the ashes into the sea.
Once all the names were called out and the ashes scattered, the seven members of the firing squad fired three volleys from their M-16s to honor the lives of the men and women who have served their country.
Shoup is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer based in Everett, Wash.