Over the past three months members of our post have been practicing to become certified for presenting military honors for deceased veterans. We have been working with a group of airmen from Robins Air Base. They have guided us and have now tested to see that we can present final honors in accordance with the Air Force guidelines.

We have eight members who are certified to present final honors. Robins will have military personnel at our Christmas Party/Youth Awards/Honor Guard Certification banquet that is scheduled to be held at the Tennis Center Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. to formally certify these eight Honor Guard members.

Our invited guests include the three award winners in our annual patriotic essay contest for all students in the middle schools in PTC. Their parents and their teachers are also our invited guests. Similarly we have the same people from our High School Patriotic Oratory Contest as our guests. This year only two entrees were received so both are winners.

Our post has ordered uniforms for our Honor Guard members. Those that have been certified will attend in their new uniforms. We are formulating a list of invitees for this significant event including VFW department and district officers, our mayor and possibly some of our congressional delegation.

The eight members to be certified include one bugle player and an alternate who will handle a imitation bugle that will play an electronic recording of taps. The other six are certified to fold and present the U.S.A. flag to the next of kin at grave side.

Any veteran is by law entitled to military honors from a three-person honor guard. Certification means we may be contracted by the Air Force to present final honors to an Air Force veteran when their Military Honor Guard unit has too many requests to render the honors. We will probably proceed to obtain certification from the Navy and Army as well.

Bob Konrad, Quartermaster
Peachtree City (Ga.) VFW Post 9949

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