ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Paying respects to a fellow service member—that’s what’s bringing this all-female honor guard out today. 

“This is a full honor ceremony,” said Amanda Hale, Staff Sgt. at United States Army Military Honor. “She was enlisted in the United States Army in World War Two. She was a woman’s air corps member, and we got tasked to do the ceremony and we’re honored to be out here.”

The procession followed along on foot, behind the hearse Tuesday afternoon in honor of Hazel Belle Keough.

The 102-year-old died on Sept. 6, and she had served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

“We served as women in the military and that is unique,” said Tori Vernau, St. Louis Service Women’s Post 404 Honor Guard. “So, we all know what we went through and the different challenges we had serving alongside men.  It’s important to honor other women who took the same sacrifices and risks to do that.”

A shared bond, honoring a fellow service member on their final send-off. 

“To give back,” said Vicki Limbaugh, Honor Guard Captain. “I was in the Army for 22 years and to do the military funerals is a way to give back.”

These American Legion 404 members have attended hundreds of military funerals over their years of service.

“It’s a beautiful haunting tune and there’s beauty in simplicity,” said Lisa Blackmore, bugler at American Legion 404. “That’s what one of my teachers used to say. I don’t want it to be super sweet. But I want it to be a nice send-off to the veteran.”