Attention Northeast, TN & Southwest, VA Veterans (Help Needed Now!)
- Todd McKinley
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Fellow Veterans,
Thank you to Nancy Rachel, the information below was easy for me to put together.
Now let me be blunt!
Folks, we're at a point in the Kingsport/Gate City area of not having enough Veterans to render final honors to other fellow Veterans who've passed on (full stop)! I'm not going to turn this blog post into a finger pointing moment, I'll just say...please help...we need you. Think how sad it is when a Veteran is laid to rest without a final salute, especially the dozens who are regularly buried at Mountain Home Cemetary without any family members, maybe a few honor guard personel there to say goodbye. Sad isn't it? You know what you can do? Read more below and reach out to Nancy, she's great as are the Joint Post 3 Kingsport & Post 265 Gate City Honor Guard who work across county and state lines to make the mission happen. If nothing else, share this blog post.
1.) Are you a member of The American Legion? If not, please Join.
2.) Are you looking to volunteer a few hours weekly with something very fulfilling and meaningful in honoring our deceased veterans?
3.) Did you know that nationally, the average age of an Honor Guard member is 73? So, don't think for a moment that you are too young or too old!
4.) The American Legion Honor Guard is very active. Services are between 9am to 4pm, Mon through Sat. No Sundays.
5) Uniforms are provided upon satisfactory attendance.
6.) Funerals and events are generally between Gate City to Johnson City.
7.) Transportation is provided with pickup at three convenient locations!
8.) We fire three volleys of rifle fire (blanks), sound Taps, fold and present the American Flag.
9.) Contact nancyrachel@embarqmail.com for more detail and questions you may have.
10.) Many thanks for your consideration in joining us. We look forward to meeting YOU soon
Interviews
“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”
Todd A. McKinley
Immediate Past Department Commander
American Legion Department of Tennessee
