There are several American Legion honor guards on duty at the Tahoma National Cemetery that provide funeral honors for veterans and their families. The teams are comprised of veterans from the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf wars.

However, we are in a crisis. The age range of these veterans is 75 years and up. We are losing members at an alarming rate, forcing some teams to disband. This creates a vacuum in services rendered. If we don't recruit soon, the honor guards will disappear.

We are volunteers and receive no compensation, nor do we want any. Our duty is the highest form of altruism. Our mission is to say farewell to our brothers and sisters. I serve with American Legion Post 99 out of Bellevue.

We perform committal ceremonies every 30 minutes, up to 12 a day on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Committals are every weekday, with other teams working different days. Our service consists of reviewing and receiving the funeral cortege, escorting the next of kin, delivering the opening prayer and the welcome by our chaplains, executing the rifle volley, playing taps, folding the flag by the appropriate Armed Service team, presenting the flag to the next of kin and escorting the remains to be committed.

We will provide uniforms, training, weapons and ammunition. There is no monetary cost to you, just your time.

We need your help sooner rather than later. Everyone is welcome.