Post Honor Guard
Our Honor Guard is new. We have started by getting everyone folding the flag properly at the grave site. Syke's Funeral Home has stepped up here in Clarksville, Tennessee allowing us to use their facilities to practice. Sykes has offered to purchase our uniforms and has set aside space at the funeral home for storing all of out equipment in a safe and secure place. Our Honor Guard currently practices every Friday evening at Syke's Funeral Home.
Military Funeral Honors
The rendering of Military Funeral Honors for an eligible veteran, free of charge, is mandated by law.
An honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran consists of not less than two members of the Armed Forces. One member of the detail represents the parent service of the deceased veteran.
The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of taps. When available taps will be played by a bugler, however there are so few buglers available that the military services may choose to provide an electronic recording of taps. The veteran's parent service representative will present the flag.
Funeral Honors Eligibility
How to Verify Eligibility
The preferred method for verifying eligibility is the DD 214. If the DD Form 214 isn't available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD 214 can be obtained by requesting it online from the National Archives.
How do Families Request Military Funeral Honors?
Families of eligible veterans request funeral honors through their funeral director. The funeral director will contact the appropriate military service to arrange for the funeral honors detail. The funeral director will also assist with receiving other federal and state burial benefits.
Our Honor Guard is new. We have started by getting everyone folding the flag properly at the grave site. Syke's Funeral Home has stepped up here in Clarksville, Tennessee allowing us to use their facilities to practice. Sykes has offered to purchase our uniforms and has set aside space at the funeral home for storing all of out equipment in a safe and secure place. Our Honor Guard currently practices every Friday evening at Syke's Funeral Home.
Military Funeral Honors
The rendering of Military Funeral Honors for an eligible veteran, free of charge, is mandated by law.
An honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran consists of not less than two members of the Armed Forces. One member of the detail represents the parent service of the deceased veteran.
The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of taps. When available taps will be played by a bugler, however there are so few buglers available that the military services may choose to provide an electronic recording of taps. The veteran's parent service representative will present the flag.
Funeral Honors Eligibility
- Military members on active duty or in the selected reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the reserves and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
How to Verify Eligibility
The preferred method for verifying eligibility is the DD 214. If the DD Form 214 isn't available, any discharge document showing other than dishonorable service can be used. The DD 214 can be obtained by requesting it online from the National Archives.
How do Families Request Military Funeral Honors?
Families of eligible veterans request funeral honors through their funeral director. The funeral director will contact the appropriate military service to arrange for the funeral honors detail. The funeral director will also assist with receiving other federal and state burial benefits.
Honoring One of Our Eagle Scouts
Honoring One of Our Eagle Scouts
On Sunday 25 July 2021, the American Legion CSM Gary W. Crisp Post 289, Inc, Honor Guard provided a one round volley at the flag dedication ceremony held at Dunlop Park in Clarksville. Nicolaus Moore’s, from Fort Campbell Troop 101, Eagle Scout project was erecting and beautifying the flag pole in the park. Ernest A. Schmidt helped mentor throughout the project.
On Sunday 25 July 2021, the American Legion CSM Gary W. Crisp Post 289, Inc, Honor Guard provided a one round volley at the flag dedication ceremony held at Dunlop Park in Clarksville. Nicolaus Moore’s, from Fort Campbell Troop 101, Eagle Scout project was erecting and beautifying the flag pole in the park. Ernest A. Schmidt helped mentor throughout the project.
Proclamation Awarded to Post Firing Team -13 July 2021
American Legion Rifle Team honored, Calls Service During Pandemic "A Privilege"
CHERI REEVES Jul 29, 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, funeral services and visitations were canceled at times or at least restricted by the number of people who could attend the service of the person who died, which placed an emotional hardship of grieving loved ones.
While the families of Montgomery County veterans who died had to do without many people in attendance at funerals, the military tributes continued throughout the year at gravesides, thanks to a local American Legion Post that continued to honor the veterans who were lost.
The American Legion Post 289 Rifle Team in Montgomery County was recognized for its service at the July 12 Montgomery County Commission meeting with a proclamation read to them by Mayor Jim Durrett.
The commissioners honored the rifle team with a standing ovation as it was recognized for the commitment of its members who helped to provide full military honors to veterans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
From January 2020 through June 2021, Post 289 volunteered 417 hours and performed 32 full military honors funerals, spending countless hours training, volunteering and putting veterans before themselves, according to Durrett.
According to the proclamation, Durrett said Congress chartered the American Legion in September 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness, programs and service to veterans, veterans’ families and communities.
“The American Legion Post 289 Rifle Team of Clarksville, Tennessee has honored the patriotism of veterans throughout Montgomery County,” Durrett said. “Post 289 Rifle Team continues to promote peace and goodwill all while maintain their core principles of justice, freedom and democracy.”
Post 289 is commanded by David Zeveney Jr. and is under the directive of sergeant at arms Bob Sisson.
Zeveney said in an interview the rifle team renders a 21-gun salute at the graveside service of veterans, folds the American flag and presents it to the family and then plays “Taps.”
David Zeveney and his wife, Billie Zeveney, both members of the rifle team, help to fold the flags during the services.
“It still gets me every time,” David Zeveney said. “It just breaks my heart. It’s very difficult when we lose a brother or a sister-in-arms. It’s really a privilege to do this.”
Stewart Sykes, owner of Sykes Funeral Home, and his daughter, Presleigh Sykes, were on hand during the commission meeting, posing for photos with the rifle team.
“They’re a great supporter of the rifle team,” David Zeveney said. “They purchased all of our uniforms and help us store them.”
CHERI REEVES Jul 29, 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, funeral services and visitations were canceled at times or at least restricted by the number of people who could attend the service of the person who died, which placed an emotional hardship of grieving loved ones.
While the families of Montgomery County veterans who died had to do without many people in attendance at funerals, the military tributes continued throughout the year at gravesides, thanks to a local American Legion Post that continued to honor the veterans who were lost.
The American Legion Post 289 Rifle Team in Montgomery County was recognized for its service at the July 12 Montgomery County Commission meeting with a proclamation read to them by Mayor Jim Durrett.
The commissioners honored the rifle team with a standing ovation as it was recognized for the commitment of its members who helped to provide full military honors to veterans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
From January 2020 through June 2021, Post 289 volunteered 417 hours and performed 32 full military honors funerals, spending countless hours training, volunteering and putting veterans before themselves, according to Durrett.
According to the proclamation, Durrett said Congress chartered the American Legion in September 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness, programs and service to veterans, veterans’ families and communities.
“The American Legion Post 289 Rifle Team of Clarksville, Tennessee has honored the patriotism of veterans throughout Montgomery County,” Durrett said. “Post 289 Rifle Team continues to promote peace and goodwill all while maintain their core principles of justice, freedom and democracy.”
Post 289 is commanded by David Zeveney Jr. and is under the directive of sergeant at arms Bob Sisson.
Zeveney said in an interview the rifle team renders a 21-gun salute at the graveside service of veterans, folds the American flag and presents it to the family and then plays “Taps.”
David Zeveney and his wife, Billie Zeveney, both members of the rifle team, help to fold the flags during the services.
“It still gets me every time,” David Zeveney said. “It just breaks my heart. It’s very difficult when we lose a brother or a sister-in-arms. It’s really a privilege to do this.”
Stewart Sykes, owner of Sykes Funeral Home, and his daughter, Presleigh Sykes, were on hand during the commission meeting, posing for photos with the rifle team.
“They’re a great supporter of the rifle team,” David Zeveney said. “They purchased all of our uniforms and help us store them.”
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
PROCLAMATION BY THE COUNTY MAYOR WHEREAS, the American Legion was chartered by Congress in September 1919 as a Patriotic Veterans Organizations devoted to mutual helpfulness, programs and service to veteran, veteran families, communities and WHEREAS the American Legion is the most influential non-profit group in the United States and has nearly two million members, and worldwide has over 13.000 Pasts. including the District of Columbia Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Philippines and WHEREAS, the American Legion Post 289 Rifle Team of Clarksville, Tennessee has honored the patriotism of veterans throughout Montgomery County since being issued a temporary charter in February 2016 and received their permanent charter on November 11, 2016 and WHEREAS, the American Legion Post 289 is commanded by David Zeveney Jr and under the directive of Sergeant at Arms Robert “Bob " Sisson Post 289 has performed full military honors funerals to veterans in Clarksville-Montgomery County for many years: and WHEREAS, during one of our nation’s worst pandemics in over 100 years, Post 289 Rifle Team continued the patriotic duty of providing full military Honors to veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic Post 289 volunteered over 417 Hours and performed 32 full military honors funerals from January 2020 to June 2021, countless hours training, volunteering, and putting veteran families before themselves and WHEREAS Post 289 Rifle Team continues to promote peace and goodwill all while maintaining their core principles of justice, freedom and democracy. The Post continues its Americanism and Patriotic observances by educating and preparing scouts for tomorrow by taking part in parades and placing flags on hero’s graves. NOW, THEREFORE I, JIM DURRETT, Mayor of Montgomery County Tennessee, and on the behalf of the citizens of this community, do hereby recognize the American Legion Post 289 Rifle Team for their dedication and patriotism to our great community and veterans worldwide. Signed by Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett |
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We will eventually have a color guard as well. Our first step is to get everyone trained folding the flag correctly. It's important the flag is folded correctly. The flaf is folded in a specific for a reason.