Published: June 12, 2009 02:00 pm      

Honor guard replaces dilapidated rifles in Clark County

American Legion members receive donation of new guns for use during military funerals

When a U.S. veteran passes, they reserve the right of being granted a military funeral. For a group of local American Legion members, they are trying to make sure all of the veterans’ families at least have that option.

A squad of 22 veterans performed 140 funerals last year, as part of a military honor and color guard from Sellersburg American Legion Post 204.

The group — which is made up of veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam — already has provided services at 60 funerals this year. That workload was starting to take a toll on their equipment.

“The [rifles] I had were made in 1943,” said Bill Craig, commander of the honor guard. “We had to work on them constantly. They were glued together, taped together — you name it.”

The troop had been looking to replace outdated rifles used for the gun salute, and Clark County Sheriff Danny Rodden was able to step in and fund the purchase of new equipment.

“They’ve been trying to find a way to pay for [new rifles] and these guys are all volunteers,” Rodden said. “I had the funds here at the sheriff’s office, so I bought seven of the M1 Garands.”

Portions of the $6,800 to purchase the former standard-issue military rifles were paid for by commissary funds from the sheriff’s department, along with public relations funds.

Since the rifles have not been part of standard-issue service in more than 40 years, they were not easy to find. With help, Rodden was able to track the guns down and buy them for the honor guard.

The sheriff’s office received permission from county officials to buy the new rifles. Each of the seven M1 Garand rifles purchased has been equipped with suppressors, which allows the guns to properly fire blank cartridges.

With the new guns in tow, the American Legion members are continuing to provide services for the families of deceased veterans.

“If they put the uniform on ... we want to do their service,” Craig said.

It takes about 15 people to perform a military funeral. The troop includes six to seven members that are part of the firing squad — the honor guard — a group of five individuals to fold and present the American Flag — the color guard — as well as a bugler and a chaplain.

The American Legion group has performed up to three services in a single day and is sometimes unable to keep up with the demand.

“The thing that really bothers us is we sometimes have to turn people down,” Craig said.

The group, at times, to fulfill the wishes of a veteran’s family, has called upon “sons of veterans” to fill its ranks.

The hope is that more veterans will get involved, Craig said. No members of the troop are veterans of the Persian Gulf War or the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Craig said that he understands that more recent veterans are not involved because most veterans from the aforementioned wars are still working and supporting families.

Most of the men in current guards are retirees.

“My guys are very dedicated,” Craig said, adding it can be time-consuming to provide the service.

“They do a great job,” Rodden said of the American Legion troop. “It really means a lot to the [veterans’] families. I wasn’t a veteran, but my dad was a vet from World War II and I always appreciated what they did.”