One time honored ceremony that I had the opportunity to be apart of while on my ship was the burial at sea, or also known as the 'at sea disposition'. I wanted to share a little bit about that tradition and the experience through some of the pictures I took that day for our ship.

After a few days of practicing and going over how the ceremony would run, early one Sunday morning my ship had the honor of conducting 23 burials at sea. They were of former Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, Guardsmen, two spouses, and a married navy couple. As read by the Chaplain that came underway with us, these fellow Shipmates, brothers, and sister were committed to their graves 'in the deep'.

To start the ceremony, the officer on the bridge went over the 1MC (the ship's broadcast system) and passes the word “All hands bury the dead”. Then our flag was lowered to half mast and our ship slowed to almost a stop. The crew was then called to Parade Rest and the Chaplain began the service. We conducted the 23 burials which was separated into 3 different services.

The Chaplain started the service with a scripture and then a prayer. After that she read a Committal and a little about the person. Then the ashes were scattered into the sea aft of the ship.

Then we had a 3 volley gun salute. Afterwards was the playing of Taps. Then we started over for the next deceased.

It was a very touching and humbling service. It is something that not all sailors may get the opportunity to be a part of. I will always remember that day.

I looked up some of the heritage behind the some of the different parts of the Burial at Sea ceremony that we had. There is history behind most of our traditions in the military and I found them very interesting.

The firing of the guns is an old superstition. It was said that evil spirits escaped out of the hearts of the deceased and the gunshots were to scare away the evil spirits. Then back in the European dynasty wars, three volley gun shots would halt the fighting so that the dead and wounded could be removed from the battlefield.

Taps came from the French's final call “L’Extinction des feux,”to extinguish the lights. Taps was first played at a military funeral during the Cival War. Capt. John Tidball had Taps played instead of the 3 volley gun salute so that their position would not be given away to their enemy.

The Ensign also plays a big part in the heritage behind the burial at sea. Placing a flag over the body of a fallen soldier traces back before the American Revolution. A private in the British Guard wrote that the Union Jack was laid upon the body of a fallen soldier who died in the service of the State to show that the State “takes the responsibility of what it ordered him to do as a solider. We still do it today to honor the deceased veteran. After the funeral services the flag is then presented to the veteran's next of kin.

Thank you for taking time to check out this amazing experience. It is one that I will remember forever. I'm glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this ceremony.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

All photos taken by me @yomikibagami

I learned the information for the history behind tranditions here