Late morning on a crisp, sunny day in October, a group of veterans from around Blair County gathered to honor one of their own.
''We've seen guys who have two Bronze Stars and all kinds of awards, and there's nothing to honor them [when they are buried],'' Dan Emerick said.
But on this day, Emerick, 78, of Roaring Spring was one of a small contingent who took time to make sure one Martinsburg veteran's funeral would have the military honors he deserved as his family and friends laid him to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Martinsburg.
''We're well on the way to being a veterans honor guard that is going to be here forever,'' said Blair County Veterans Honor Guard organizer Chuck Garber, representing Duncansville Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8724.
Garber said the organization grew from the realization that there wasn't a countywide effort to ensure veterans received proper funeral honors.
Since December, veterans from VFW and American Legion posts throughout the southern end of the county have been recruiting members, cobbling together uniforms and getting the word out to area funeral directors.
''We're not a crack unit, but we're there,'' said Garber, 64, a Korean War Army veteran.
For area funeral directors, the honor guard gives them a renewed resource when making arrangements with veterans' families.
''I just thank those guys all the time for what they do,'' Williamsburg funeral director John Bolger said.
Bolger said families have options for military honors at funerals - at minimum, the playing of taps and a flag folding and presentation to the family by a pair of current military officers.
''This is an opportunity to have a flag presentation with a lot of regalia,'' Bolger said of the honor guard.
As Garber pointed out, federal law provides for at least two members of the military at a veteran's funeral, but demands make it impossible for the U.S. Department of Defense to provide more than the bare minimum.
The honor guard, he said, strives to have flag bearers, riflemen for the military salute and a bugler for taps to work with military representatives sent by the DOD.
Vietnam veteran and Duncansville VFW Commander John Gentry said the problem hit home after the post received calls about military honors.
''It was really heart-sickening to tell people we couldn't do it with nowhere to refer them,'' Gentry said. ''So we called around to see if we could join forces.''
Tyrone funeral director Richard Searer said it's a problem he has encountered more and more.
''Fellows are getting older, and no one comes along to replace them,'' Searer said of the honor guards that once could be found either at each individual post or at least in every town.
Searer said ceremonies have become ''filtered down'' because of the lack of numbers.
Searer said the group presented itself to the area's association of funeral directors recently to promote themselves, and they made enough of an impact that they were given a donation.
''This group has got their act together and do a good job,'' Searer said. ''They're needed.''
Janet Imes and her family needed the honor guard late last month after her father, Lloyd I. Quarry Jr., died at age 83. A Navy veteran who served in the Pacific aboard a PT boat in World War II, Quarry was laid to rest with full military honors, thanks to the Blair County Honor Guard.
''It was very impressive,'' Imes said. ''Those guys are really dedicated to serving their fellow comrades.''
Getting the group organized hasn't been easy. Working with scant finances, the all-volunteer honor guard slowly has put together uniforms and built a dedicated group of veterans and nonveterans who belong to organizations such as the Sons of the American Legion. Garber said getting enough men together for services can be tricky, especially during busy times.
''These programs wouldn't be without the help of the Sons,'' said Gary Knisely, a Navy veteran who represents Murray-Appleman American Legion Post No. 147 in Roaring Spring.
Fred Free, a Roaring Spring Sons of the American Legion member, said he had reservations when he first was asked to fire a rifle for a funeral.
''I didn't think I should shoot because I didn't serve my time,'' he said, adding that someone suggested it would be a good way for him to honor his own late father, who was a veteran.
''They said, 'Just do it for your dad,' and I said all right.''
For more information on the Blair County Veterans Honor Guard, visit www.bcvhg.org.
Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7446.
