U.S. Air Force Capt. Nicholas R. Erb, right, stands with his brothers, Emerson, left, and Donovan, center, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Dec. 3, 2025. The three brothers attended the funeral of their grandfather, retired Lt. Col. Richard Irwin Erb, a pilot and aeronautical engineer who served in the Air Force from 1950-1979. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

Jeffrey Erb, son of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Irwin Erb, accepts the casket flag from U.S. Air Force Chaplain Joshua D. Zarzana during the funeral ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Va., Dec. 3, 2025. Erb was survived by five children and eleven grandchildren. One of his grandsons, Capt. Nicholas Erb, is a pilot with the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Irwin Erb’s family and friends watch as the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard conducts the graveside ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Va., Dec. 3, 2025. Erb served in the Air Force as a pilot and aeronautical engineer from 1950-1979 and flew several different aircraft during the Vietnam War and in peacetime. Erb was survived by five children and eleven grandchildren; one of his grandsons followed in his footsteps as an Air Force pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

U.S. Air Force Honor Guard members stand at attention in Arlington National Cemetery as the remains of retired Lt. Col. Richard I. Erb arrive in Arlington, Va., Dec. 3, 2025. The Honor Guard performed Erb’s service as one of their core missions; the Honor Guard performs up to six full-honors funerals in a day, which consists of at least a six-member pallbearers’ element, seven-member firing party, and 15-member marching flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Pallbearers fold a casket flag during the graveside service of retired Lt. Col. Richard I. Erb at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Dec. 3, 2025. Each member of the team prepared to honor U.S. servicemembers with precision and dignity as their full-time duty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Silva, trumpet player with The U.S. Air Force Band’s Ceremonial Brass, performs taps in honor of retired Lt. Col. Richard L. Erb in Arlington, Va., Dec. 3, 2025. The playing of taps at military funerals was first conducted during the American Civil War, when a Union Army officer ordered the song played during a burial of one of his soldiers in lieu of the three-round volley to avoid alerting the Confederate Army. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

The family and loved ones of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard I. Erb gather as the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard members carry his remains to the graveside ceremony in Arlington, Va., Dec. 3, 2025. The Honor Guard performed Erb’s service as one of their core missions; each year, the Honor Guard renders funeral honors for more than 2,500 military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

Three T-6 Texan aircraft from the U.S. Air Force’s 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. perform a missing man formation flyover during retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Irwin Erb’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Dec. 3, 2025. Erb served in the Air Force as a pilot and aeronautical engineer from 1950-1979 and flew several different aircraft during the Vietnam War and in peacetime. Erb’s grandson, Capt. Nicholas Erb, attended the funeral and is a pilot with the 14th FTW. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Michael Mendoza, center, noncommissioned officer in charge of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team, commands the detail to render a salute at retired Lt. Col Richard L. Erb’s funeral in Arlington, Va., Dec. 3, 2025. The Honor Guard performed Erb’s service as one of their core missions; each year, the Honor Guard renders funeral honors for more than 2,500 military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell)