I recently joined KAVV soon after relocating to Kenosha from Evanston, IL. I was made aware of this Honor Guard through an ad in the VFW newsletter and applied immediately after moving in April 2025. I was interested due to the fact that I had served in an Honor Guard unit while on active duty in the US Army at Ft. Monmouth, NJ in 1970-71, before my deployment to Southeast Asia in 1971. I subsequently served in the 1St Signal Brigade in Vietnam and Thailand.
In addition to being a part of this group which carries the esteem of many of the veterans that I have met since moving, firing the final salute at funerals is rich in the honor that is eternal in those who have served. I noticed that the meaning of this activity carries a lot of meaning to the families of those who have passed.
At one of the funerals, I noticed a young boy around 10 years old standing close to his dad who was holding the folded flag given to the next of kin. As we passed through the group of mourners, I handed my spent shell casings to the young man, he said “For me?”, I looked at the dad and he nodded yes, that it was ok to give them to the lad. He thanked me and I went on my way.
This incident, which only took a few seconds, stayed with me. It was a reminder that I had joined a group of dedicated veterans many of whom have been doing this duty for many years and I was proud and humbled at the same time. Providing solace by honoring the fallen is a rich tradition that carries meaning for us and for the families that we serve.
It is my hope that this young man will hold the shell casings as a way to honor the memory of his grandfather who served the nation with honor.