Veterans are needed for Honor Guard

Members of the Honor Guard. Doug Hayes is fifth from left and McCann is first from right. (Contributed photo)

Approximately 75 families in Rutherford County requested the services of the Honor Guard at the funeral of their loved one -- a veteran of the military. The families contacted the funeral home that was serving them and the Military Honor Guard was contacted and they graciously agreed to help.

The Rutherford County (Military) Honor Guard is a group of 21 veterans who are on call to provide military honors at the funerals of veterans who request their services.

Doug Hayes, who has been a member of the Honor Guard for more than 20 years, said the group needs more military personnel to join the Honor Guard in order to keep serving families.

"Right now we have about 21 people in the Honor Guard," said Hayes. "But some of them are sick and right now can't help us and some have moved away," he said. He said the Guard is also aging, including himself at 76.

There is a need for younger military personnel to step up.

When a veteran passes away if the family wishes, the funeral home staff will notify the Honor Guard leader, Peter McCann, and request their presence and the process begins to serve.

The Honor Guard works with all funeral homes in Rutherford County and even if a veteran is laid to rest in another county and the honor guard is requested, the guard will go.

On January 11 (today) the Rutherford County Honor Guard is traveling to the Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain to pay honor to a Rutherford County veteran. The veteran passed away in early December.

"We will go outside the county for burial if asked and if the veteran is from Rutherford County," Hayes said.

At the gravesite services of the veterans, the Honor Guard folds and presents the American flag to the family, Taps are played and the 21-gun salute is presented. At the close of the service, the Honor Guard also presents a brown envelope to the family that has the 21 shell casings and a copy of a poem read at the gravesite enclosed.

"This is an honor to do this," Hayes said, a US Army veteran.

"I enjoy doing this. Just seeing the looks in the family's eyes, the ones who really appreciate it," Hayes said.

The Honor Guard hopes men and women who have ever served in the military will want to join the work of the Honor Guard.

Call Hayes at 828-980-9810 or McCann at 289-5356 if interested. The prospective members will be asked to attend two or three veteran funerals and will receive training.

The Honor Guard does not receive pay, but any donations given are returned to the Honor Guard to help pay the expenses of the van, the ammunition and other expenses incurred.