An Oklahoman Plays A Role In President Gerald Fordâ€™s Funeral Service

His son is a member of the military honor guard and Monty Campbell of Sapulpa felt honored himself to know his son was chosen as a pallbearer for President Gerald Ford's casket Tuesday. <br/><br/>He

Tuesday, January 2nd 2007, 9:59 am

By: News On 6

His son is a member of the military honor guard and Monty Campbell of Sapulpa felt honored himself to know his son was chosen as a pallbearer for President Gerald Ford's casket Tuesday.

He talked with News on 6 reporter Steve Berg.

21-year-old Kirk Campbell wasn't even born when Gerald Ford was president. But his dad says Tuesday is something that he can tell "his" kids and grandkids about. Monty Campbell watched on a tiny TV set in his boss's office. But it's not hard to spot his 6-foot-4, 220-pound son.

He says Kirk's physical conditioning is one reason he was chosen for the important duty. "He's been steps away from presidents, vice presidents, emperors. He gets to see everybody." But he says Tuesday was by far his son's greatest honor. "They were all in Washington D.C. getting ready and piling in, and he said Dad I feel like I'm swallowing bricks, I'm just so nervous, and I said you're going to do just fine, and he did. He did a fine job."

Campbell's unit had the duty of carrying the president's casket from Air Force One to the hearse before the service and then back to the plane afterward. Besides the physical requirements, Campbell says for such an important occasion, they needed someone who could follow protocol to the letter. "He told me, he said I'll be one of the first Campbells to be that close, and I said you're the only Campbell that's been that close to somebody like that. He just makes us all so proud."

Kirk represented the Air Force at Tuesday's ceremony.

You might be surprised to know that the military honor guard is a full-time job. Campbell says his son serves in as many as 3 to 4 ceremonies, including funeral services, every day.