A portrait of Theresa Greene taken in 1943 during her SPAR basic training at Cedar Falls, Iowa. Greene, 28, enlisted in New York during WWII. (Coast Guard Photo/File)

Young and old gather around as the bugle plays an old familiar, mournful tune. Some with tears flowing from their eyes while others sit in silence as they listen and look on. Listening to the tearful sounds of the bugle call and looking towards the flagged draped casket of Theresa Greene. 

Greene was born in Queens, New York, in 1914, to immigrant parents.  Her Russian father and English mother came to New York several years earlier. At age 94, Greene may have been one of the oldest surviving of the earliest group of enlisted SPARS. 

A portrait of Theresa Greene taken in Charlotte, N.C., 2008. Greene, 94, was laid to rest at Brithachim Cemetery in Petersburg, Va., Jan. 23, 2009. (Photo/ Marilyn Johnston)

SPARS as they were called stood for 'Semper Paratus, Always Ready,' the Coast Guards motto. On Nov. 23, 1942, legislation was approved creating the women's reserve branch of the Coast Guard during WWII. This helped paved the way for Coast Guard women today.

At the age of 28, while working at a hospital, Greene decided to enlist after going to the Lower Manhattan recruiting office in New York. She wanted to see what role she might be able to take during the war and learned that they were just gearing up for the first group of SPARs.

"By 1943, one of her brothers was already in the Army stationed in Africa.  Her father was not pleased, but my mom made up her mind and said he knew it was a losing battle to try to change it," said Dr. Marilyn Johnston, Greene's only daughter. "My mother talked about being told by the recruiter she could come into the Coast Guard as an enlisted person, but not as an officer, because she was Jewish. She would have loved being an officer, but she enlisted anyway.  I don't think she ever blamed the Coast Guard.  She knew how things were in our country during those times, yet she wanted to serve and to do her part."

Greene reported for basic training at Cedar Falls, Iowa, from January through February 1943.  She was later assigned to the 5^th Naval District in Norfolk, Va., where she completed her tour from Jan.18, 1943 through June 7, 1944.

The casket of Greene, draped with the national ensign, awaits burial at Brithachim Cemetery in Petersburg, Va., Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. (Coast Guard Photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Henise)

"I seem to remember mom saying she was assigned to work in the Office of the Commandant and sent on recruiting trips. I know she talked about having been up in Baltimore for some of those," said Johnston. "She married my dad in October 1943.  He was in the Army stationed in Norfolk.  He was already finished with his service by the time they married.  My mom was the one in the uniform."

During the turbulent times of WWII, there were many tragedies that occurred. News of family and friends not coming back was not uncommon. Though Greene was not in an operational unit, she was not immune to the tragic news.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Christina Bethea and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jackie Campbell fold the national ensign during the burial ceremony of Theresa Greene, 94, a former Coast Guard Petty Officer, at Brithachim Cemetery in Petersburg, Va., Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. (Coast Guard Photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Henise)

"One of the more sobering stories she told us was about the loss of some men from her Norfolk base she worked with. They were killed when the Coast Guard vessel they were on hit an iceberg in the waters off Alaska.  The loss of those men saddened her greatly."

After Greene was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard, she continued living in Virginia and though her service was short, her time in the Coast Guard as a SPAR was always a part of her. In later years, as a retiree, she moved to Southern Florida and affiliated herself with the Gold Coast Women, an all female group of veterans from various branches of military service.

"Being a SPAR was something she was extremely proud of.  I could say it was a defining moment in her life.  She felt it was her duty to serve, to 'help bring her brothers home'," said Johnston.

As the national ensign is lifted off the casket and carefully folded, the music stops. The two women dressed in Coast Guard uniforms, present the flags to Greene's two oldest children.

"On behalf of the President of the Unites States, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and a grateful nation we present this flag to you as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved ones service to this country and the Coast Guard," whispers Petty Officer 2^nd Class Jaqueline Campbell and Petty Officer 2^nd Class Christina Bethea, members of the funeral detail.

The two slowly march back into formation, allowing family and friends to take in the moment.

"I know mom would have loved that way of honoring her," said Johnston.  "It was particularly touching to have an all-woman Honor Guard.  It was very healing. Her former colleagues and students who were not aware of her service in the Coast Guard were able to share that experience with us. It was another way for them to know more about her.  At the end of the burial service, we all stood and saluted Mom's casket. It was a fitting way for us to say goodbye."

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