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PHYSICAL  SECURITY  OF  CRP  FACILITIES
Figure 4-1. History, heritage, Navy

Religious Program Specialist 3 & 2, Module 01-Personnel Support
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CHAPTER 4 NAVAL  FUNERALS  AND  CHAPEL  WEDDINGS “The  Navy  is  not  a  job,  it  is  a  way  of  life.” The significance of this statement is exemplified by  the  unique  customs,  honors,  traditions,  and special  ceremonies  which  surround  all  naval funerals and chapel weddings. The primary purpose of the duties performed by  the  Religious  Program  Specialist  on  these occasions  is  to  support  and  assist  the  chaplains as  they  conduct  religious  rites  and  ceremonies for  naval  personnel  and  their  families.  In  addi- tion  to  an  understanding  of  the  religious  rites, an  awareness  of  the  significance  and  meaning of  naval  customs  and  traditions  will  enable Religious  Program  Specialists  to  serve  more effectively   in   their   role   of   support   to   Navy chaplains. Before naval funerals and military weddings are  discussed  in  detail,  it  is  important  to  note some  elements  of  naval  customs  and  traditions which   play   an   important   part   in   these   cere- monies.   The   significance   and   origin   of   naval customs  which  relate  to  military  funerals  and weddings  can  be  traced  back  to  the  American Revolution  and  the  formation  of  the  Continen- tal Navy. Some of the customs which have been passed  down  to  the  present-day  Navy  and,  in time, will be passed on to future generations are presented  in  the  following  paragraphs. The  national  ensign  or  flag  of  the  United States  of  America  represents  our  nation.  John Paul  Jones  is  thought  to  have  been  the  first military   commander   to   fly   the   American   flag when  it  was  first  flown  aboard  his  vessel,  the Ranger,  in  Portsmouth,  NH  on  July  4,  1777. Sailing  for  France  on  November  1,  1777,  Jones again   flew   the   Stars   and   Stripes   aboard   the Ranger. At   the   same   time,   Jones   carried word  of  the  Battle  of  Saratoga  to  Benjamin Franklin,  who  was  the  American  emissary  in Paris.  Entering  Quiberon  Bay,  on  February  14, 1778, Jones found the French fleet in roadstead (figure  4-1).  As  the  Ranger  sailed  in  at  sunset with  the  American  colors  flying,  the  French saluted   with   “nine   guns’’—official   recognition by  the  Royal  French  Government  of  the  new American  Republic.  As  a  result  of  this  gesture, Britain  handed  France  an  ultimatum  and  the French  responded  by  joining  the  new  American Republic in its war of independence against the British.   Following   this   historical   event,   the American flag became the primary symbol of the United States and has had a central place in both civic and military ceremonies since that time. Our  national  ensign  is  always  handled  with great  care  and  dignity.  The  union  (the  stars)  of the  flag  is  considered  to  be  its  point  of  honor. No  flag  or  pennant  is  ever  placed  above  the ensign of the United States except during Divine Services  conducted  on  board  ship  by  chaplains. When   Divine   Services   are   being   conducted, either  the  Christian  or  the  Jewish  pennant,  as appropriate,  may  be  flown  above  the  national ensign. When   displayed   in   the   chancel   area   of   a Navy  chapel,  the  national  ensign  should  be  to the  right  of  the  chaplain  as  he  faces  the  con- gregation. When the ensign is to cover the casket of  a  member  of  the  naval  service,  its  “union” should  be  placed  at  the  head  of  the  casket  over the area of the deceased member’s left shoulder (figure  4-2).  During  burial,  the  flag  must  not touch the ground nor be lowered into the grave. The  ensign  of  the  United  States,  when  placed over  a  deceased  member’s  casket,  acknowledges that the member served the nation and its naval service.   Navies   of   other   countries   permit   the sword,  the  cap,  and  the  chapeau  to  be  placed upon their national flag when it is draped over a 4-1







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