Funeral squad aims to recharge its ranks

The East St. Mary Veterans Funeral Squad is looking for a few good men.
The non-profit organization provides military funeral honors for any honorably discharged veteran of the Unites States military in the Tri-City area at no cost to families.
Membership in the funeral squad is made up of honorably discharged veterans who volunteer their time to give their brothers-in-arms final honors as they are laid to rest. Since July 1988, the East St. Mary Veterans Funeral Squad has performed 785 military funerals at no cost to the families, according to a letter from Commander Joe Boersma.
“The funeral squad members feel that it is their duty and honor to perform the ceremony by presenting the American flag to the surviving spouse, followed up by a 21-gun salute and end it with Taps,” Boersma said.
With health concerns and an aging squad, their numbers are dwindling. Only 13 men are on the active member roster, according to Jimmy Richard, the funeral squad’s secretary/treasurer.
“We’re hurting to fill the squad. We’re shorthanded a lot of times,” Richard said.
A full firing line is seven guns, which shoot three volleys, making up the 21-gun salute.
“As far as working a funeral, we’re lucky if we can get 5 or 6, sometimes 3 or 4,” Richard said, adding that the military will send two men, but they must be booked nearly a week in advance.
“We’re all local and we know most of the families. It works out a little better for the families,” he said.
The 13 volunteers who handle the honors are getting older, with numbers dwindling due to deaths.
“I’m the youngest one at 67. We’ve got them in their 90s. Mr. (Jessie) Reynaud will be 94 or 95 next month. A lot have disabilities and can’t handle a gun, so we put them doing something else … the average age is mid-80s at least. … We’ve lost quite a few recently. We lose two or three (members) per year,” Richard said.
Richard said the families are grateful for the work they do, often sending letters, thank you cards and donations.
“They’re so happy we tried to do it for them. That’s the final honors you get when they hear Taps playing,” Richard said.
The East St. Mary Funeral Squad meets at 2 p.m. the first Saturday of every month at VFW Post 4222 in Morgan City. Richard said any veteran can attend the meeting to learn what the group does.
“No matter how many few we are, we’ll go out,” he said.
For more information, call Richard at 985-385-4601 or 985-312-8200.