The report of rifle shots echoed through the solemn silence at Greenwood Cemetery.
Members of the Greenwood and Whiteland Honor Guard had come to pay final respects to one of their fellow veterans — Chester Smallwood, who served 21 years in the U.S. Navy. The Honor Guard was several feet away from the gravesite, standing at attention and ready to do their duty. At the appropriate time, the seven members fired their M1 World War II-era rifles, three volleys each, before the mournful notes of “Taps” started in.
The group had volunteered their time to provide military honors at the burials of local veterans. This was one last way to thank him for his service to the country.
“Mr. Smallwood was a brother to all of us who were in the military, and we honor his sacrifices, the time he spent away from his family. We honor him by showing his family our respect as a brother,” said Steve Sowder, an Honor Guard member.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryWhen a local veteran dies, an honor guard is present at his burial to give them the proper respect and tribute that their service deserves. Guard members, made up of local VFW and American Legion groups, volunteer to provide a firing party and honorifics at funerals of service members in all branches of the military.
“They say a soldier doesn’t die unless he’s forgotten. The Honor Guard pays respect to the soldier so they’re not forgotten,” said Don Worthington, one of the guard members.
But membership in the Honor Guard has waned, as longtime members have become too old to participate or have passed away themselves. Organizers are finding it increasingly difficult to field a full guard, said Bob Tuttle, commander of the Honor Guard.
“Due to retirement and health problems, our member numbers have dwindled to a point where we are having difficulty fulfilling our obligation to provide military funeral honors for all our local veterans,” he said. “We want to help ensure our veterans continue to receive full military funeral honors in the area.”
Waiting in their designated place away from the gravesite, members of the Honor Guard prepared for their duty.
All of the members of the Honor Guard are military veterans themselves, evident in their coordination and attention to detail during the service. They dressed in crisp white shirts, black pants and mirrored black shoes. With white gloves on, they gripped their rifles, responding to Tuttle’s orders and moving as one.
Before the funeral started, they practiced multiple times to ensure their coordinated movements. Their goal is to act and shoot at the exact same time, with three distinct reports each time they fire a volley.
After the service, the Honor Guard collected the discarded shell casings to place in a small bag. The casings were presented to Chesterfield’s family, along with a pair of scrolls that tell the story of “Taps” and other military traditions.
“It’s all about the veteran. It’s very rewarding to be able to present this and do it in a military fashion that the family appreciates,” Tuttle said.
The Honor Guard concept dates back to 1919, when veterans groups provided the 21-gun salute to men killed in World War I.
The Greenwood American Legion Post 252 has had its own guard since 1948. As fewer members volunteered for the duty, the organization joined with the VFW posts in Whiteland and Greenwood to provide more options and make sure all veteran funerals are attended, Tuttle said.
So far this year, the Honor Guard has been present at 99 services, often having two or three in a single day during the summer. But the members of the Honor Guard did whatever they could to attend each of them, said Sherri Jones, an Honor Guard member.
“We want to give our veterans the final honors and respect that they deserve, and give comfort and closure to the family and next of kin,” she said.
The Honor Guard assists the military, who provides service members to attend the funeral and perform the ceremonial folding of the flag draped on a veterans’ casket. In the case that the military cannot send anyone, the guard provides that service as well, Tuttle said.
Anyone who has served in the military and is a member of the Greenwood American Legion or VFW Post 5864 in Greenwood, or VFW Post 6978 in Whiteland can join the guard.
Tuttle has those who express interest attend a few services with the Honor Guard, to get a better sense of what they’re signing up for. Once they witness the duties the guard performs, if they still want to take part, they discuss joining officially.
“We want to make sure it’s something they really want to do,” Tuttle said.
Potential members also have to demonstrate the calls used during the ceremony, showing that they can perform with the unit with the rifle.
“For most of these guys, learning how to handle the rifles is like riding a bicycle — it comes back pretty fast, even though we haven’t done it for 30 years or so,” said Sam Eades, a member of the Honor Guard.
Members of the Honor Guard are not expected to be present at every veteran funeral, Jones said. When Tuttle is informed of a scheduled service, he sends an email to all participants, asking who would be able to attend. He likes to have a minimum of nine members at each service — 11 in case they need to fold and present the flag.
But those who are signed up will do everything they can to make it to the services, Jones said.
“If you really want to be here, and it means something to you, you’ll show up,” she said.
In the end, participating in the Honor Guard is a small token of appreciation for the men and women who have protected this country, and to their families, Eades said.
“We want to pay tribute to our veterans,” he said. “It’s an honor to do it and they deserve it.”
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The Greenwood and Whiteland Honor Guard is looking for military veterans to increase their ranks in serving all of Johnson County and the southern half of Marion County.
The group provides military funeral honors for local veterans, including folding and presenting the burial flag, the firing of seven M1-Garand rifles and playing “Taps.” Much of the time they coordinate these services with the associated military branch funeral team to provide the veteran full military honors.
Participants must be military veterans, and be a member of either American Legion Post 252 in Greenwood, VFW Post 5864 in Greenwood or VFW Post 6978. If those interested are not members of those organizations, they can sign up to join.
If interested, contact Bob Tuttle at 317-888-5617 for more information.
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