Members of the Fulton County Veterans’ Honor Guard participate in a ceremony at a funeral. From left are Dan DeCrow, Pete Price, Kevin Druding, Willie Sauberlich, Victor Mitchell, Rob Beckman, Bob Maes, John Roberts and Honor Guard Commander Joe McElfresh. Photo provided by Jeri Good.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — The Fulton County Veterans’ Honor Guard is focused on “respect” for military members.

That’s according to American Legion Post 36 Commander and Honor Guard member Rob Beckman and Honor Guard Commander Joe McElfresh.

Made up of representatives from Legion Post 36 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1343, the guard has existed for “at least 25 years,” said Beckman.

Late World War II veterans Willard Clark and Bob Bridge started it. Currently, there are 19 members in the guard. The guard’s main activity is recognizing veterans at their funerals.

Beckman said honor guard members do a walk-through at the funerals.

“We do a walk-through there and we go up and pay our respects to the veteran … one at a time,” he explained. “Just one guy goes up, and then we’ll salute, and then we’ll step back. I’ll take my hat off and just say a little prayer … and then we each do that.”

“If you’re a past member or an honor guard member, we’ll also stand by your coffin,” said Beckman.

The guard also conducts a ceremony for the deceased, playing taps, firing a volley and giving a folded flag pin, 21 spent shell cases and three rounds to the family.

People sometimes contact the guard directly about having guard members at their relatives’ funerals, but usually the funeral home contacts the guard, said Beckman.

McElfresh said the guard goes to around 40 funerals a year.

The group’s main focus is on Fulton County veterans, but members will also help surrounding county honor guards out by conducting ceremonies for veterans outside the county if needed.

The honor guard also participates in a Pearl Harbor Day remembrance and Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies each year.

Before Memorial Day, the guard works with Boy Scouts to “put flags and markers on all the veterans’ graves” in the county, said McElfresh.

The honor guard also does presentations to veterans at county nursing homes ahead of Veterans Day, with the group giving out embroidered blankets to the veterans this year, said Beckman.

The guard is also in area festival parades and does the flag raising during the Akron Fourth of July Festival.

People may donate for the honor guard by sending funds to Fulton County Veterans’ Honor Guard, c/o American Legion Post 36, P.O. Box 703, Rochester, IN 46975.

McElfresh, left, and Beckman, the commander of American Legion Post 36, said the guard exists to bring “respect” to military members. Here they hold a jacket, which contains the names of honor guard members who have passed away. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

A close-up view of the jacket containing the names of late honor guard members. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.