Honor Guard01

Waupaca County Post

November 9, 2006

Veterans Receive Final Thanks During Military Honors at Funerals

By Angie Landsverk, Post Staff Writer

For years, residents of the Wisconsin Veterans Home have honored their peers with one final salute during a military funeral that is typically held at the chapel on the grounds and then at the cemetery.

“What I find interesting is that the Military Funeral Honors Program was created here in 2000 in our state, whereas the King Honor Guard extends well over 100 yeas with residents volunteering their time to honor veterans,” said Gary Dierks, the supervisor of Wisconsin’s Military Funeral Honors Team.

Dierks said that prior to the year 2000, there was no requirement to tender the honors at the funerals of veterans, although such honors were often provided when someone was available to do so.

But a federal law that went into effect in 2000 says that every veteran is entitled to receive the folding and presenting of the flag at his or her funeral and the sounding of taps.

“If the family requests it, the military is required to try to do it,” he said.

If a bugler is not available to sound taps, a sound system may be used, and if available, the military can also provide rifle detail.

Dierks said Wisconsin took it a step further by forming the actual Military Funeral Honor’s Program, assisting the families of veterans and veterans’ groups in providing honors at military funerals.

Any veteran with an honorable discharge may have an honors team at his or her funeral, Dierks said.

Those who have a question about whether a family member is eligible to receive the honor or who want to make arrangements for military funeral honors may call (877) 944-6667.

There are three cemeteries for veterans in Wisconsin, located in King, Union grove and Spooner.

Approximately 100 military funerals are held in King each year, while there are about 80 a month at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.

Dierks said the state’s Military Funeral Honors Team is a separate entity from the King Honor Guard and that the state program has three cemeteries in the state for veterans.

An office in Madison tracks the approximately 5,000 to 6,000 military funeral that are held in the state each year, he said.

The King Honor Guard and the Military Funeral Honors Program that is also stationed at King provide honors at military funerals.

Harold Becker, Gilbert Blaker and Red Main are part of the King Honor Guard, while Victor Alvarez and Susan Brandl are part of the Military Funeral Honors Program that covers the central part of Wisconsin.

The King Honor Guard has been there in one form or another since the veteran’s home has been in existence, Dierks said.

Main, who has been part of the team for about 5-1/2 years, said it used to be very competitive to get on the team.

“The previous population was younger, and so it allowed more participation in the honor guard,” Dierks said. “There are not as many who can participate. I’m sure there are many who would like to participate. They just aren’t physically able.”

In order to be part of the team, a physician’s permission in writing is required.

Becker said he joined the team in King because he wanted to help. Main said it is nice to honor and give a final salute to veterans.

Alvarez said it is something he is willing and able to do.

At the beginning of a military funeral, the honor team gives a hand salute to the veteran. That takes place before the service starts.

After the service, the team lines up outside the chapel with its rifles.

The unfolded flag is held above the casket or urn.

Irrespective of the number of rifles, each fires three volleys. Then, the bugler sounds taps, which is followed by the folding of the flag and presenting it to the next of kin.

Dierks said that most of these traditions stem from the Civil War and that representatives of the branch of service that the veteran served in are the ones who fold and present the flag to the next of kin.

He said that people often think that if there are seven on rifle detail that the veteran is receiving a 21-gun salute.

However, that is a misconception, he said, because only dignitaries and heads of state receive a 21-gun salute.

“If you’re a veteran, let your family know what you want,” Dierks said. “It’s the family’s choice as to what they want and what they receive.”

Either a family member or funeral home director makes the call to get the honor team in place.