The Greater Beaches VFW Post 3270 highly recommends utilizing the Services of the Beaches Honor Guard. Please see their information below:
The Beaches Honor Guard was founded in
June 1981 by Phillip Ness and nine other
members of VFW Post 3270. First services
were conducted out of a donated travel
caravan and no fees were requested. All
participants provided their own uniforms
and military attachments. After the first
service, they were given a donation of $10
to help "defray the cost of the gas to get
there”. By 1983, they were performing
around 25 services a year for their fallen
brethren.
In 1985, the Beaches Honor Guard became incorporated and became a non-profit organization under the auspices of
the VFW. Since then, they have grown to
a number of around 15 active members
and perform around 65 to 80 services a
year in the Jacksonville Beaches and surrounding areas. They also began a service
that includes Flag Etiquette courses for
the local elementary schools and any other
civic groups who wish their instruction.
In 1987, the City of Jacksonville Beach
invited them to lead their "Beaches Opening Day Parade” and ever since, the BHG
has proudly carried the Colors and Military Services flags at the head of each
parade.
When the Jacksonville National Veterans
Cemetery was first announced as being a
reality, the Beaches Honor Guard was the
only Veterans group asked to be in attendance at every one of the planning sessions
held prior to ground breaking. They have
since been asked to perform services at
the JNVC in the form of Full Military
Honors, as well as providing a rifle
squad in support of active duty personnel when requested to do so by the family of the deceased or by request of the
military personnel when a military rifle
squad is not available to do so.
The BHG has also been in full attendance for the dedication of all 13 of the
Fallen Heroes Memorial Services held
at the local high schools honoring the
alumni of that school who were killed in
action defending our nation. Also, the
BHG has had the privilege to provide
rifles for the "Missing in America” program held two or three times a year at
the JNVC during the internment of the
unclaimed ashes of veterans found in
area funeral homes. The current Bugler
has sounded Taps at the annual
"Wreaths Across America” ceremony at
JNVC for the past five years.
The BHG has never charged for any
service they have provided and never
plan to do so in the future. All members
are veterans of one of the branches of
the U.S. military and volunteer their
time and talents as often as they are
able to do so. The BHG has grown in
appreciation with the community and,
as such, has been able to provide full
uniforms (sans military insignia and
medals, etc.) for each of its members
and has been able, through various
fundraisers and generous community
donations, to purchase a 14-passenger
bus capable of getting the troops and
equipment to and from each and every
service.
Over the years, the BHG has seen
many members come and go, some by
having to leave due to health or moving
from the area, and, sadly, some by having services provided by the BHG in
their honor. The motto proudly displayed and upheld by the virtue of each
and every member is, "Dedicated to the
Last Roll Call.”
Time is taking its toll, however. At
this point, we are down to about 10 active and semi-active members who have
been called upon to conduct these services. Most members are retirees, but
some are still working, which limits
their participation.
We are in need of new members so that
we may continue to provide these services to our fallen comrades and to the
public. The only requirements are being
a veteran of any of the Armed Services,
and a desire to honor our veterans. We
provide the three volleys using M-1 Garands modified for blank cartridges. The
bugler has several instruments he uses
(including two used by his predecessors),
and, when conducting the Colors fold
and presentation, a Roll Call and
speech.
For further information, please contact
John Poe, Executive Director, at (904) 294-4949.
