Patch, USAF, Base Honor Guard

This patch signifies Base Honor Guard in the United States Air Force. A young enlisted man who served in the honor guard at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, in February 2003, sent it to the Museum with a variety of his honor guard accessories. When the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry over Texas on February 1, 2003, Barksdale AFB became the collection site for vehicle debris and human remains. The members of the base honor guard had the sudden duty of handling flags and caskets bearing remains of the seven astronauts who perished in the accident. The honor guard items were offered to the Museum as a tribute to the Columbia crew.