Committed to honoring fellow veterans

I met up with the honor guard from Meander VFW Post 9571 at Young's Restaurant in Ellsworth. Sitting around a table, the men were all dressed in their honor guard attire -- dark blue suitcoats, white shirts and ties.
They had just come from a funeral. It was their 66th this year.
Upon the request of families, the honor guard is asked to attend the funeral of veterans to pay tribute to their fallen comrades.
"We started the honor guard five years ago," explains Myron Young, a World War II veteran. "We started doing them because of all the requests from families."
"A lot of veterans started dying," WWII veteran John Wolboldt says in a matter-of-fact tone.
Virgil Hoyle, also a WWII veteran, shares the details of an honor guard tribute.
"When the hearse pulls in, we line up with rifles," Virgil says. "As the pallbearers bring out the casket, I call the crew to attention."
The honor guard salutes until the coffin is put in place. After the minister speaks, Myron reads a tribute. John, the honor guard chaplain, says a prayer. Then the crew fires three volleys for a 21-gun salute.
Harry Fawcett from American Legion Post 177 plays taps. John and Korean War veteran John Craig fold the American flag. Myron presents the flag to the family. Virgil gives the family three empty shells to represent the gun salute.
Each manhas a role
As Virgil was talking, I was looking around the table. Each man has a part in the tribute. Every individual plays a certain, indispensable role.
Just as these men relied and counted on their comrades in war, so the bond of service follows their fellow soldiers in death.
"These men are committed to this," Myron shares.
"You feel it is a duty?" I ask the group. In unison, the men nod their heads.
"Definitely," John Craig says. "It shows respect to your fellow man."
Ray Schafer, a Vietnam veteran, says, "I am proud of serving. It is an honor to do this for these guys."
"Military service is something ... you don't get over it," shares Bob Osthoff, a Vietnam veteran. "It becomes a part of you."
"The camaraderie never ends," adds Ray.
Bond of serviceunites the men
Though these men fought in different wars, in different branches of the armed forces, achieved different ranks and are a generation or two apart, the bond of service unites them.
"We see how much the families appreciate seeing us there, giving tribute to these veterans as they are laid to rest," Myron shares.
"I'm the most emotional guy here," John Craig says, as chuckles rise from the around the table. He seems like a tough-guy character. "When that flag is being folded. ..." The tough guy fights back tears.
"I've gotten over it now," Virgil says, admitting his emotional side. "But for a long time, when I heard taps ... ."
Looking to the end of the table, I see Larry Barickman, a Korean War veteran who has sat in silence throughout the interview.
"I'm the thinker," he says, smiling shyly as I look to him for input. He pauses, then continues, "It's hard to talk about it."
Tears well up in his eyes as silence falls around the table. Heads were bowed in thought. For a moment, each man was back at war, battling their own personal memories and emotions.
"When I as was asked to be in the honor guard, I told my wife I didn't think I could do it. I break down too much."
Then, wiping the tears from his eyes and looking up with a soldier's resolve, he eloquently shares his reasons for honoring fallen heroes.
"I love my country. I love the men I served with. And nobody better say anything bad about our flag."
gwhite@vindy.com
XThe VFW Post 9571 Honor Guard is supported by the post's fish fry the first and third Friday of the month at 11397 Ellsworth Road.