HONOR GUARD
"Honoring Those Who Served"
"Honoring Those Who Served" is the common title used for providing dignified military funeral honors to veterans.
As provided by law [1], military funeral honors for an eligible veteran are provided when requested by the family.
An honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran consists of not less than two members. The honor detail performs a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of "Taps". The law allows Reserve and National Guard units to help with funeral honors duty.Those who are eligible for U.S. military funeral honors include:
- Former U.S. Presidents
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
U.S. military funerals include all or some of the following:
- The coffin is usually draped in a U.S. Flag as a pall.
- A three-volley gun salute is fired for the deceased veteran.
- "Taps" is played on the bugle at a distance (30-50 yards) from the grave site.
- During this time the “Final Salute” is given.
- The flag is folded and is then presented to next of kin as a keepsake after its use during the funeral service
[1] Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act
Post #79 Honor Guard Protocol
American Legion Post #79 Honor Guard is proud to serve the Legion and its members. In order to facilitate this service, protocol and policy have been established as to use of the Guard.
- The Honor Guard is available for funerals of all Montgomery Area Veterans, at the request of the family.
- The Last Watch - The Guard will stand post during visitation/wake, offer prayer and will provide a detail for 'The Final Salute' the day of the funeral and at the cemetery.
- The Final Salute - consists of a prayer, the firing of the rifles, the sounding of taps, the folding and presenting of the American Flag under which this veteran served. A poppy is then placed on the urn or casket signifying this veteran will not be forgotten. A salute is executed with a blessing that the veteran "Rest in Peace."
- The Guard will carry the colors in parades, post colors, retrieve colors and be available for other community ceremonies as the resources of the Guard are available. Examples of this include, but are not limited to:
- Kolacky Day parade.
- Veterans’ Day ceremonies.
- Memorial Day ceremonies.
- Ceremonies in surrounding communities who request Guard support.
- Speeches to local community groups regarding veteran issues.
- Presentations on a variety of subjects as requested by community groups such as the Boy and Girl Scout, Cub Scout and Brownies, local schools and churches.
Anyone interested in requesting the Honor Guard should email their request in care of the following email: American Legion Post Club Manager, Sharon Brunette, [ montyamerlegion79@gmail.com ].
They may also call the Legion at 507.364.7779 to log their request. All requests should contain contact information so the Sergeant at Arms can call to confirm Honor Guard participation and get further specifics as to the event.