FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- Tech. Sgt. Wolfram Stumpf, 460th Force Support Squadron Mile High Honor Guard flight chief, holds a folded American flag before presenting it to the next-of-kin of a deceased military veteran June 5, 2012 at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Honor guard members conduct various ceremonial activities. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Senior Airman Paul Labbe) FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- The Buckley Mile High Honor Guard carries the remains of a military veteran during a ceremony June 5, 2012 at Fort Logan National Ceremony. The Mile High Honor Guard unit is an all volunteer section made up of varying Air Force career fields at Buckley. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paul Labbe) FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- Staff Sgt. Scott Chambers, left, and Senior Airman Sean Filer, Mile High Honor Guard firing team members practice before a funeral service at Fort Logan National Cemetery June 5, 2012. Both members are from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. and as members of the honor guard they regularly provide military honors for ceremonies and functions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Gross) FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- Staff Sgt. Scott Chambers, left, hands the flag to Airman 1st Class Cody Wilson during a funeral service at Fort Logan National Cemetery June 5, 2012. Both Airmen are part of the Mile High Honor Guard from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. Providing military honors is one of the several jobs the honor guard performs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Gross) FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- Mile High Honor Guard members practice folding the American flag before a funeral service at Fort Logan National Cemetery June 5, 2012. The Airmen are from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Gross) FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- Tech. Sgt. Wolfram Stumpf, Mile High Honor Guard flight chief, holds a folded American flag during a funeral service June 5, 2012 at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Stumpf is from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. and regularly participates in providing military honors for ceremonies and functions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Gross) FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- Tech. Sgt. Wolfram Stumpf, 460th Force Support Squadron Mile High Honor Guard flight chief, presents a folded American flag to the next-of-kin of a deceased military veteran June 5, 2012 at Fort Logan National Cemetery.The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard originated in 1948 when Headquarters Command, U.S. Air Force, directed the creation of an elite ceremonial unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paul Labbe) FORT LOGAN, Colo. -- A flower rest on the grave of the deceased at the Fort Logan National Cemetery June 5, 2012. Fort Logan is the resting place for Seven Buffalo Soldiers and is often used for rendering of military funeral honors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paul Labbe) Those who wear the silver rope by Senior Airman Paul Labbe 460th Space Wing Public Affairs 6/8/2012 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Air Force Honor Guard is often the first and last opportunities families of veterans have to interact with the military throughout their lives. The Buckley Air Force Base Mile High Honor Guard upholds the Air Force standards in presenting families and veterans with the highest honors. The Air Force Honor Guard's main mission is to provide final military honors for retired and veteran members. At Buckley this remains true for the Mile High Honor Guard team. "Because of the major city we live by, we also participate in events such as posting the colors at major sport events and for teams such as the Rockies, Broncos, and the Avalanche," said Tech. Sgt. Wolfram Stumpf, 460th Force Support Squadron Mile High Honor Guard flight chief. Those who are interested in joining the honor guard need only to speak with their 1st. Sgt. and their supervisor to make sure they are able. After approval, they will sit down with the honor guard leaders to conduct an interview to make sure it's truly something they wish to do, and explain the commitment that is required. "For the most part our team is an all volunteer team. We do have the luxury of receiving Airman from units such as the 566th Intelligence Squadron and the 2nd Space Warning Squadron who arrive to the base from technical school and have yet to receive the required security clearance," Stumpf said. "They have the opportunity to volunteer to participate in honor guard for around three to four months straight until they receive their clearance." The team works with Airman from around the base. "We pull people from all over the base so it's not just like the pride of the 460th Force Support Squadron or like the pride of the 460th Medial Group it's the pride of the base," Stumpf said. The Mile High Honor Guard also provides support for recruitment of individuals who are maybe thinking about joining into the Armed Forces. The honor guard provides a critical role in community involvement. When dealing with military honors the honor guard are the ones to present the family with a symbol of appreciation for their service and sacrifice of their loved ones. "We play the role as the ones to gives thanks to those who served not just for the service member but also to the family members who served along with them," Stumpf said "There is some fear having to deal with the death of another person you may not know and trying to make sure everything goes perfect for them." Each individual that joins the honor guard team has their own sense of pride and reasoning pushing them to continue to participate in a mentally stressful career. "As a pharmacy technician I know that I play an important part of the Air Force but I joined the honor guard because it gives me a sense of pride and also allows me to do things that go above and beyond my normal career," said Airman 1st Class Dustin Stevens, 460th Medical Group pharmacy technician.