Read about the difference in Formal and Informal Casket Watch here.
Here are some DrillMaster Casket Watch procedure videos to help you to get a better understanding.
How an individual died should not reflect on the honors received (suicide). This is different from a Line of Duty Death vs. off-duty or retiree.
From my book, The Honor Guard Manual.
To many in the honor guard world the term casket watch, is unknown. That is unless you are on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or EMS honor guard member. These members have known of and performed a casket watch for many years for their fallen. Let’s get into what casket watch is and how it is performed. The minimum for a casket watch is one guard who can informally or formally post at the head of the casket.
There are three parts to first responder casket watch:
The members of the casket watch are:
If selected as part of the funeral protocol, two unarmed (armed with a rifle/shotgun/axe is considered inappropriate inside a chapel) honor guard members watch over the casket of the fallen during the viewing or wake. In most cases these members take their positions at the foot and head of the casket at Attention/Stand at Ease. Depending on the duration of the viewing or wake, watch shifts established. If a WC is not present, either of the watch guards will call subdued commands.
Watch Guards: DO NOT bow your heads while posted. This eliminates your ability to receive communication. Read, Making Things “Ceremonialer”
At the beginning of the first watch, two guards and the Watch Commander (WC) enter the room (from either side or the front) where the watch is taking place. For this manual we will assume an entrance from the front. All commands are subdued. No facing movements (except Three-Count About Face) or flanking. (If unarmed, ignore weapon commands.)
Casket Watch Initial Posting
Casket Watch Initial Posting
The time between changes of the guard is entirely up to you. It is an honor to stand watch over a fallen comrade and as many who would like to should be given the opportunity.
NOTE: When changing Watch, the guards DO NOT salute each other, they are to only salute the flag/deceased.
Casket Watch Guard Change: Entrance
Casket Watch Guard Change: New Guards Posted
Casket Watch Guard Change: Old Guards Move Inward
The Final Watch Departure ceremony can be used before the pall bearers enter the room to retrieve the casket for transportation to the burial site.
Final Watch: WC Arrival
Final Watch: Final Salute of the Flag
Final Watch: Departure
An alternative to the above Final Watch is to have the final two guards push the casket out of the chapel to the pallbearers who either join them or replace them.
The simple answer: it isn’t tradition for veteran funerals. The exception is in special circumstances like when a President dies and lies in state at the rotunda of the Capitol building. There is a joint service team that stands facing the casket off of each of the four corners. There is also an officer or NCO/CPO who stands at the head of the casket. The guards stand watch at Attention (they are armed with a rifle- not loaded and stand at Order) for one hour and are then changed. As the guards enter and exit they carry their rifles at Trail Arms, but at an angle, it’s more of a ceremonial look to this standard position. A group of ceremonial guardsmen from each service can rotate through a 24-hour period standing watch every few hours, it’s up to the ranking individual who stands at the head of the casket. There are also two more ceremonial guardsmen standing off to the side ready to move in if something happens to one of the guards.
The Marine Corps does, on occasion, perform this duty with one or two Marines.
All information and images are from The Honor Guard Manual (DrillMaster Press) and are (c) John K. Marshall
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