United States Air Force Chaplain (Colonel) Martin McGuill’s (Ret.) last Arlington National Cemetery service was September 25th at 9 AM. This photo was from the first service I did with Father McGuill in 2003, he had already been at the cemetery for decades (he’d like to say since before Moses’ beard grew long). On each of the hundreds of services we were on together, I watched as he was able to connect with each family in a compassionate and meaningful way. He would often quote St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel, when necessary, use words.” Or close a service by saying, “May your love, sore on eagles wings to touch the face of God, hallelujah, hallelujah.” And, he would tell his groaners. He touched the lives of so many families in their time of need and he touched the lives of the people that worked with him. We are all better for having spent time with him, especially in the few minutes before a service would start when he would just chat with you for a moment. I know I will miss those times. Here’s one more of his quotes, “There are a lot of tragic funerals at Arlington, but this service is different, it is a big T for triumph.” Off he goes into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun… Thank you Father McGuill! @usairforce @official_usafhonorguard @AirForceChaplainCorps

[igp-video src=”” poster=”https://www.arlington.media/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/united-states-air-force-chaplain-colonel-martin-mcguills-ret.-last-arlington-national-cemetery-servi.jpg” size=”large”]United States Air Force Chaplain (Colonel) Martin McGuill's (Ret.) last Arlington National Cemetery service was September 25th at 9 AM. This photo was from the first service I did with Father McGuill in 2003, he had already been at the cemetery for decades (he'd like to say since before Moses' beard grew long). On each of the hundreds of services we were on together, I watched as he was able to connect with each family in a compassionate and meaningful way. He would often quote St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel, when necessary, use words.” Or close a service by saying, "May your love, sore on eagles wings to touch the face of God, hallelujah, hallelujah." And, he would tell his groaners. 

He touched the lives of so many families in their time of need and he touched the lives of the people that worked with him. We are all better for having spent time with him, especially in the few minutes before a service would start when he would just chat with you for a moment. I know I will miss those times.

Here's one more of his quotes, "There are a lot of tragic funerals at Arlington, but this service is different, it is a big T for triumph." 

Off he goes into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun... Thank you Father McGuill!

@usairforce 
@official_usafhonorguard 
@AirForceChaplainCorps