Photos posted on social media by a member of the Wisconsin National Guard — including an image of soldiers striking comedic poses around a coffin — have sparked outrage, prompting an official investigation.
One photo shows 14 soldiers — most smiling or making tongue-in-cheek gestures — gathered around a coffin draped with an American flag. The caption accompanying the photo says: "We put the FUN in funeral your fearlous honor guard from various states," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Wisconsin National Guard said it was investigating.
"It has come to the attention of the Wisconsin National Guard that a soldier may have posted inappropriate pictures and comments regarding their duties as a member of a Funeral Honor Guard," a spokesperson said in a statement. "We are currently looking into the matter."
In the comments on the Wisconsin National Guard's official Facebook page, scores of users — including some military veterans — expressed shock and disgust.
The controvery comes just days after a photo of an Air Force member "kissing" a Prisoner of War-Missing in Action symbol went viral.
The photo of Staff Sgt. Cherish Byers of the 92nd Security Forces Squadron was taken three years ago but surfaced on social media channels last week, the Air Force Times reported.