Harlan Kirgan
The foundation has been set for a St Landry Parish Veteran Funeral Honor Guard and now it needs donations to become a reality, according to Lincoln “Link” Savoie, coordinator.
Savoie has talked about the honor guard at a St. Landry Parish Council and each of the 12 municipal meetings in the parish. He’s gone to veterans groups and talked to about anyone who would listen about the formation of an honor guard to pay tribute to veterans.
“Now what I’m trying to get across to the public is the groundwork has been laid. Everything is ready to be purchased. Now, the parish has got to support their veterans,” he said.
Savoie, of Sunset, who has served as state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said he aims to get a 20-member honor guard up and running by September.
Honor guard members must be veterans from St. Landry Parish. Training will include formal military funeral procedures,
A funeral detail will include a six-member rifle squad, flag folding detail, a bugler, a commander and, if requested by the family, six pallbearers.
But besides recruitment he has to raise about $21,000 for weapons and uniforms for 20 honor guard members.
Savoie said each weapon cost $600, a dozen are to be purchased, and the 20 uniforms are $700 each.
Savoie has been working on the honor guard project through American Legion Post 514 in Opelousas.
The parish honor guard will not interfere local VFW or American Legion honor guards, he said.
Donors will be recognized on the honor guard’s website, stlandryvetshonorguard.com.
Donors for weapons will have their names inscribed on the weapons.
The honor guard will be limited to funerals, he said.
“We have approximately 5,500 veterans in St. Landry Parish and they continue to give as they have while on active duty,” Savoie stated in a letter about the honor guard.
The 5,500 veterans in the parish received about $27 million in benefits, he stated.
The vision statement for the honor guard posted on the website is: “The Saint Landry Parish Veterans Honor Guard underscores the belief that every veteran honorably discharged from the military and residing in Saint Landry Parish should be buried with dignity with full military honors, justifying ‘The Best Going-Away Possible.’”
Want to help?
Donations can be made to American Legion Post 514, In care of Veterans Funeral Honor Guard, P.O. Box 1145, Opelousas, LA, 70571.