Military funeral honors program provides final goodbye to veteran
To help
To volunteer, train and be certified to provide military funeral honors programs for veterans, veterans should call Mike Johnson at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Kienow-Hilt Post 1621 in Janesville at (608) 754-4342 or Bob Engstrom of the local Vietnam veterans chapter at (608) 754-2706.
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An honor guard from the VFW Post 1621 Military Funeral Honors Program fire off a 21-gun salute at a funeral at Oakhill Cemetery.
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Mike Jeffords plays "Taps" on a bugle during a military funeral at Oakhill Cemetery.
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Melvin North, left, and John Sumpter fold the flag that draped a casket at a military funeral.
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One side of coin given to family at military funeral.
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One side of coin given to family at military funeral.
JANESVILLE — Bob Engstrom is moved each time he helps give military honors at a funeral.
“Every military funeral I have ever been in I have had a tear in my eye for the veteran. It is an honor to be part of the veteran’s military honor program,’’ he said.
Engstrom coordinates the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 236 military funeral honors program.
“Everyone of us take military honors very seriously so we provide the honors with the utmost respect and dignity,’’ he said.
While the demand for military honors is increasing, the number of veterans willing and trained for the solemn task is shrinking.
Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Kienow-Hilt Post 1621 also provide military funeral honors under the longtime leadership of Mike Johnson.
“It’s a way of thanking the veterans for their time of service and means something to be there for their families,’’ Johnson said.
Twenty Vietnam Veterans of America members and 14 VFW members are trained and certified through the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to provide military honors.
Both groups said they could use more veterans to help.
Many older veterans are physically unable to perform military funeral honors, and many younger veterans can’t get time off from work, Johnson said.
“There is always a need to train new people,’’ Engstrom said.
The number of requests for military funeral honors has increased for the Vietnam veteran’s chapter each of the last two years. Members provided military honors at 20 veterans’ funerals in 2009 and 30 in 2010. Now in its third year, the group already has provided military honors for nine funerals this year, Engstrom said.
The VFW averaged 12 military honors funerals a month from 2007 to 2009 and has handled 32 since Nov. 10. The pace in 2011 has slowed, which Johnson attributes to fewer living World War II veterans.
“In December 1946, there were 16.4 million World War II veterans, and as of June 2010, there was only 4.2 million left, who are dying at a rate of 1,000 to 1,5000 a day,’’ he said.
Grateful loved ones
Engstrom and Johnson said families are appreciative every time they’ve been involved in a military funeral.
Engstrom was among the honor guard standing in a row at a recent funeral when the hearse pulled up to the gravesite. Earlier, they had carefully checked each other’s uniforms, inspected rifles and polished the bugle.
After presenting the folded American flag to the departing veteran’s widow, Engstrom turned to the veteran’s young grandson, leaned over and said: “I know you will miss your grandfather a lot, so I would like to give you this coin. When you look at it, you will remember all the good times you had with him. I thank him for serving his country as a soldier and will also remember him.”
As the boy clutched the coin in his little hand, the veteran’s widow took Engstrom’s hand and thanked him.
Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America military honors group collected the shell casings—21 of them—put them in a small red, white and blue bag and gave them to the family.
Janet Degenhardt, Janesville, said her son Troy, who is a Gulf War veteran convinced her to have military honors at the funeral of her late husband, Donald.
“I probably would have never thought of it, and it was such a moving service,’’ Janet said.
Her thank-you note hangs on a bulletin board at the VFW. It reads, in part: “We want to thank VFW Post 1621 Honor Guard for the wonderful ceremony you performed for Donald Degenhardt. It made us very proud of him. What an honor to receive the flag and medal. We will cherish them forever.’’
Linda Colby, Janesville, didn’t hesitate to have the military honors at the funeral of her father, William G. Bullian.
“My Dad loved America and what he fought for. It was an honor and the most precious thing for him to have,” she said.
Johnson said providing the last rites for a veteran always emotionally affects him.
“It’s a solemn ceremony,’’ he said.
Engstrom, a combat veteran, said every veteran deserves a military honors funeral.
“That is the final goodbye from his country.’’
Jun 22, 2011 at 3:39 a.m.
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the first time I ever "lost it" at a funeral, was my first military honors one. It was for a good friend who had passed. I saw the military folks outside at the start (funeral was at the funeral home), but thought nothing of it, until the room when silent and taps rang through. I immediately started to bawl. Now, as a military family, It is even more touching. I have been to several since then, and I always make it a point to thank the veterans not only for their active service, but for offering their time fo the funeral service.
Side note to the "many younger veterans (who) can’t get time off from work". Ask your employer. I bet you can. and if you can't,seriously consider a new employer.
Apr 1, 2011 at 9:58 p.m.
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We appreciate your coverage and your thoughtful story. Many folks not VFW members commented to me about it; former military contacted us about becoming part of the Honor Squad.
Apr 1, 2011 at 1:53 p.m.
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What a nice article. Thank you for publishing it. I wish everyone would take time to thank those men and women who have given (and are giving) their time to serve our country.
Apr 1, 2011 at 11:01 a.m.
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My father was a Korean War veteran and very proud of it. When he died in 1994 it was a great tribute to his service by having the full military funeral honors. Thank you all so much and to all of the servicemen past and present who have made sacrifices to ensure the freedom of the United States.
Apr 1, 2011 at 10:41 a.m.
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I am a vet and the son of a vet, thank you for your continued service to our country.
Apr 1, 2011 at 9:37 a.m.
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I am so grateful the funeral director mentioned this when we lost my dad last year. He had been called up for the Berlin Crisis, which fortunately was diffused, but he was activated when he was in the local National Guard - Red Arrow Division. This is not just for those we lost in service, but for those who served our country and went on to every day lives, as well. These gentlement do a wonderful, respectful job in their presentation. I hope they can recruit some younger vets to carry this on over the years. I am sorry I never thought to send them a thank you note myself, as the other lady did.
Apr 1, 2011 at 6:53 a.m.
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Thank you to all who have and are serving in the Military! I would also like to thank those continue to do the Military Honors for our Veterans funerals.
Apr 1, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.
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It is a shame that only 8 people respond to a article of this magnitude. I but I guess protesting and commenting on "more important" issues is what most people do these days. Just remember that these people that serverd our country gave you that right to do so. I better stop now before I type how I really feel about all of this and get removed. Thank You
Mar 31, 2011 at 7:10 p.m.
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There most definately is a reason we are free. Thank you to all military personel past and present!
Mar 31, 2011 at 5:36 p.m.
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I get a lump in my throat. I can usually hold it together until the bugle and guns. Thanks to all our vets AND their families as well.
Mar 31, 2011 at 4:40 p.m.
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My dad almost went to Vietnam, so I'm always thankful for the men and women who have served in the military, both now and in the past. This is a great story.
Mar 26, 2011 at 6:25 p.m.
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I couldn't have said it any better than the first two post!! Thank You to ALL vets who have served are serving and to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Mar 26, 2011 at 6:03 p.m.
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Thank you for doing this story, we need more like this.
Thank you to all who have served our country and given the ultimate sacrifice.
And also, thank you to people like Mr. Engstrom for their part in the military funeral honors program.
Mar 26, 2011 at 4:53 p.m.
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God bless those who have fought for this country and those who are in the Military now. Coming from someone who is currently serving the final goodbye from the country they served is the ultimate goodbye
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