On the 29th of November 2011, the Pennsylvania Military Funeral Honor Guard honored a veteran at Fort Indiantown Gap.  It was one of the 14 Veterans that we honored that day.  This one did hold a special place in our program though.  That day we did our 10,000th set of honors as a program.

We did it in just over 4 years.  Basically we did it in 51 months.  We look
to do our next ten thousand a lot quicker than 4 years time.

When I look back over our short four years, there are a lot of people that I
need to thank.  None of which, do I owe more thanks, than to the Red Rose
Veterans Honor Guard.  Without doing a lot of research, I would have to
think that at least a thousand of those services, were shared with the
RRVHG.  I have said on many occasions and will continue to do so in the
future, that you are the best of the best.  Thanks for allowing our teams to
become one in the duties of honoring our veterans.  

It is an Honor to work with you guys, and I truly appreciate the relationships that have been made.  From being loaned a smoke from the great Bob Hershock, to being able to call Mrs. Trout "Mom", it is all special to me.  From Lt. Colonel Shaefer in charge to SGM in Charge, the organization just charges on!!!!!

The time and effort, the wind and the rain, the uniforms and the cleanings,
the training and the meetings, the VETERAN.  You all understand, with the
same passion as I, the end of that sentence makes it all worth it.

Thanks for all that you do for the Veterans and through that all that we do
together!

With Honor,   

Walter J Burnett
PA State Coordinator
Military Funeral Honors
Pennsylvania National Guard
 

Dear Men and Women of RRVHG,

I wanted to thank you for the honor you brought to my old friend, Harold (Jim) xxxxxxx at his funeral on August 23.  Your sharp, stirring military ceremony was fitting tribute to Jim for his service in the USN.  When you presented the United States flag to his teenage grandson, "...On Behalf of a Grateful Nation," my heart was in my throat.  I will never forget that moment.

Thank you, thank you!   For the outstanding work you're doing.  The hours you've spent and the effort you've put forth are appreciated by the families and friends of the veterans you honor.

Burt xxxxxxxx
 

I would liked to extend my family's heartfelt thanks for your attendance at my father's funeral on January 25, 2011.

Our family, particularly my mother felt consolation and the sense of pride by your presence honoring my father. 

Dad quit high school in his senior year to join the Navy in 1944.  He just had to "go over there" before the war ended.  He later went on to earn his GED and have three sons.   These were the three things he was most proud of in his life.

Sitting there holding my mother's hand during the flag ceremony seemed like an eternity, filled with grief.  My solace was knowing Dad was being honored for something he was very proud of; a Navy tail gunner on a B-25.  Mom broke down when handed the flag by a gentleman in a Navy uniform.  I know she was remembering Dad in his uniform. 

Thanks to your organization for not forgetting the Veterans and for the flag.  Please extend my personal thank you to each member who attended my father's funeral.

God Bless You All!

Mike xxxxx and family