The Few That Went Ahead of Us

The nights are longer, the days are shorter. Soon we will close out another year on our calendar. Some of our loved ones will not witness the ending of 2023...and some of those are our family and friends who were in the military at some given time. The years they served left a memory for their family, and now they themselves are a memory.

The year 2023 was a rather quiet year for VFW Post 4067 and American Legion Unit 57 color guard. They attended and honored comrades at eight funerals for deceased brothers. One family chose not to have a color guard service for their loved one, due to living out of the area, weather conditions and concerns about Covid.

It has been a project of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries for several years now to honor the deceased military each year with some type of memorial ornament in remembrance of our veterans. The most that were created was several years ago, when 26 memorials were placed on the Christmas tree at the VFW. That averaged out to a funeral about every other week; some weeks there were three funerals, which kept the volunteers who provide the memorial tribute on their toes. But what better tribute could one provide for a comrade than to be part of a farewell tribute?

Some that received the color guard services are strangers, while some are acquaintances, friends or family. There are those that served with the deceased in the military as well, and often that connection and bond is stronger than with family.

With 2023 about to close a chapter in time, keep in mind those who have gone on ahead of us, as well as those who took the time to give these eight a final farewell. Thank you, volunteers of the color guard; you are appreciated.