their ladders fully extended, forming a protracted arch with a large, thirty- by fifty-foot American flag that hung from the center of each set of ladders. Uniformed personnel at attention saluted as Michael passed, while the gentle breeze moved the flags in a manner that appeared to usher the motorcade into the cemetery.
With a large crowd anticipated, parts of the service open to the public were scheduled in the largest of the public assembly areas near the front of the cemetery, while the small, private graveside service attended by family, close friends, and the U.S. Navy personnel followed the pubic service. Many members of the local, national, and international news media were present, some intent upon attaining a photo of a grief-stricken family member. In an effort to protect the family from this invasion of privacy, a large contingent of active-duty military surrounded the media pool and greatly limited their field of view.
Military Honors
As the funeral party arrived at the public assembly area, about thirty feet from the funeral coach were twelve of Michael’s teammates from SDVT-1, six as honorary pallbearers and six as casket bearers. The seven-man firing party stood at attention in the distance but remained visible to the family. As the funeral coach came into view, the six pallbearers and six casket bearers held their salute until the coach had stopped. The driver opened the rear door and slowly pulled Michael’s flag-draped casket partway out. As Father Coyle took his position on the curb at the head of the pallbearers, the Murphy and Duggan families exited their vehicles, while the officer in charge ordered the pallbearers into position at the rear of the funeral coach. As the pallbearers removed Michael’s casket from the funeral coach, the firing detail was ordered to present arms.
Father Coyle, followed by the officer in charge, led the way to the assembly area. As the casket passed through the pallbearer ranks, each turned and followed.
Directly behind the pallbearers were the Murphy and Duggan families, who were escorted to their seats under two large green canopies.
As the casket bearers placed the casket on the bier, Father Coyle stood at the head of the casket. Captain Bisset stood to his right. After the casket was properly positioned, all uniformed military personnel dropped their salute as the firing detail was ordered to order arms, then to parade rest. The pallbearers stood directly to the left of the casket and faced the Murphy family, while the casket bearers, in unison, raised the flag from the casket, held it waist high and stretched taut over the casket, and remained motionless throughout the remainder of the service. At the conclusion of the invocation by Father Coyle, Rear Admiral Maguire and Captain Pete Van Hooser, a senior East Coast naval officer holding the honorary rank of commodore, presented the Murphy family with two medals that Michael had earned as a result of his service in Afghanistan. First came the Silver Star, with the following citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL
posthumously to
LIEUTENANT MICHAEL P. MURPHY
UNITED STATES NAVY
For service set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as part of a Special Reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit, Afghanistan, from 27 to 28 June 2005. In his role of Assistant Officer in Charge of Alfa Platoon and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance ground element commander for the mission, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to capture or destroy the
With a large crowd anticipated, parts of the service open to the public were scheduled in the largest of the public assembly areas near the front of the cemetery, while the small, private graveside service attended by family, close friends, and the U.S. Navy personnel followed the pubic service. Many members of the local, national, and international news media were present, some intent upon attaining a photo of a grief-stricken family member. In an effort to protect the family from this invasion of privacy, a large contingent of active-duty military surrounded the media pool and greatly limited their field of view.
Military Honors
As the funeral party arrived at the public assembly area, about thirty feet from the funeral coach were twelve of Michael’s teammates from SDVT-1, six as honorary pallbearers and six as casket bearers. The seven-man firing party stood at attention in the distance but remained visible to the family. As the funeral coach came into view, the six pallbearers and six casket bearers held their salute until the coach had stopped. The driver opened the rear door and slowly pulled Michael’s flag-draped casket partway out. As Father Coyle took his position on the curb at the head of the pallbearers, the Murphy and Duggan families exited their vehicles, while the officer in charge ordered the pallbearers into position at the rear of the funeral coach. As the pallbearers removed Michael’s casket from the funeral coach, the firing detail was ordered to present arms.
Father Coyle, followed by the officer in charge, led the way to the assembly area. As the casket passed through the pallbearer ranks, each turned and followed.
Directly behind the pallbearers were the Murphy and Duggan families, who were escorted to their seats under two large green canopies.
As the casket bearers placed the casket on the bier, Father Coyle stood at the head of the casket. Captain Bisset stood to his right. After the casket was properly positioned, all uniformed military personnel dropped their salute as the firing detail was ordered to order arms, then to parade rest. The pallbearers stood directly to the left of the casket and faced the Murphy family, while the casket bearers, in unison, raised the flag from the casket, held it waist high and stretched taut over the casket, and remained motionless throughout the remainder of the service. At the conclusion of the invocation by Father Coyle, Rear Admiral Maguire and Captain Pete Van Hooser, a senior East Coast naval officer holding the honorary rank of commodore, presented the Murphy family with two medals that Michael had earned as a result of his service in Afghanistan. First came the Silver Star, with the following citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL
posthumously to
LIEUTENANT MICHAEL P. MURPHY
UNITED STATES NAVY
For service set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as part of a Special Reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit, Afghanistan, from 27 to 28 June 2005. In his role of Assistant Officer in Charge of Alfa Platoon and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance ground element commander for the mission, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to capture or destroy the
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