Exchange Ensures Dignity, Honor and Respect for Fallen Service Members

The Exchange provides a service that is by and large unseen by the public, but is extremely important: providing uniform items for fallen service members.

The Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at the Charles C. Carson Center in Dover, Del., works to ensure dignity, honor and respect to fallen service members of current and past conflicts.

We honor the hard work and sacrifice of the mortuary staff, who give so much to ensure those who have served so well receive the dignity, honor and respect they deserve. 

Teo Smith, general manager

To ensure the departed are provided with the honor and decorum they deserve, Barbara Taylor, the Dover AFB Exchange’s Military Clothing manager, is on-call 24/7 to provide uniforms and insignia to Mortuary Affairs personnel in case a particular item is not on hand at the facility. Items are discounted from retail price when provided to the staff.

“We try to make it where command knows they can rely on her any time they have an issue—it doesn’t matter if it’s Monday at 1 in the morning,” said Teo Smith, the Exchange’s general manager. “Even if we don’t have a particular item in stock, we reach out to our business partners so they can get those items overnighted to us.”

Smith said the Exchange is honored to provide this final act of service to fallen service members who have so selflessly made the ultimate sacrifice for their country