FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Since Fairhope’s 2009-2010 “Veteran of the Year” Joseph “Billy” Garner attended the funeral of a family member and veteran in Mobile last April at which an Honor Guard from Citronelle performed a ceremony in the veteran’s honor, he has worked to establish a similar Honor Guard at the Gaston Lee VFW Post 5660 in Fairhope.

“I was impressed with the service the Honor Guard provided,” Garner said Tuesday night at the Fairhope VFW post. “I felt we needed something similar here.”

Since that time, Garner has helped raise several thousand dollars from donations in the Fairhope community to establish an Honor Guard at the VFW post. The funds were used to purchase uniforms, a bugle and other equipment for the group, he said.

“We’ve got more than a dozen members now and all wear the same uniform with an Honor Guard patch on the shoulder,” Garner said. “We can now provide veterans with a funeral at any time, and we can also participate in dedications, such as at the military cemetery in Spanish Fort.”

The new Honor Guard, which includes members from all four branches of the military, gathered at the VFW post Tuesday to announce their services were available for funerals of military veterans, which may include a bugle, flag and rifle ceremony.

The members who attended the Feb. 8 meeting included: Larry DiAmco (U.S. Air Force), Jack Wilkins (U.S. Air Force), Jerzy Czaplinski (U.S. Marines),Terry Garner (U.S. Air Force), Ed Coburn (U.S. Army), Billy Garner (U.S. Navy), Bob Hempfleng (U.S. Marines), Tommy Langham (U.S. Air Force), Mike Geary (U.S. Army), Don Dixon (U.S. Army) and Brandon Quinnelly (U.S. Marines).

During their meeting, the group demonstrated the ceremonial folding of the American flag, which is then presented to the family at a veteran’s funeral.

“We would like to thank everyone that has helped us establish the Honor Guard,” said Coburn, the post commander. “We formed this group to ensure that every vet has the funeral they deserve.”

Coburn added that the group is actively seeking members.

Family members of veterans interested in having a Gaston Lee Honor Guard ceremony should talk with the funeral home director who will contact the group, Coburn said.

“We have been receiving a great deal of help from the Honor Guard in Monroeville and would like to thank them as well,” Garner said.

For more information, contact Billy Garner at 928-0796 or contact VFW Post 5660 at 928-8259, which is located at 950 Nichols Ave. in Fairhope.