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Bring up Memorial Day to a friend, and the conversation will likely lead to a chat about family getaway plans, barbecues or swimming pools. In fact, many will observe the federal holiday not only as the unofficial first day of summer, but instead, as what Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic intended it for in 1868.
Logan wrote that Memorial Day was designated as the day “… for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion…”
He never once mentioned summer fun.
Still, there are honor-bound citizens and United States veterans who will pay tribute to those who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces by attending a parade or ceremony.
VFW members and Honor Guards will also participate, but these honor guards will continue to serve their fallen brothers and sisters after the last Monday of May passes; Memorial Day comes 365 days of the year for these volunteer veterans.
Hollister VFW Post 9242 Commander Bernie Ramirez told BenitoLink that Hollister’s VFW Honor Guard participates in more than 10 funerals a month. They are actually one of the five VFW Honor Guards within 50 miles of Hollister (San Juan Bautista’s Leslie L. Garratt Memorial VFW Post 6359 also has an honor guard). “We have a total of fifteen honor guard members,” Ramirez said of Post 9242, “and it takes four to seven members to do military honors.”
The guard primarily serves San Benito County veterans, but also assists in ceremonies in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Clara counties. VFW Post 9242 member and Honor Guard member Adam Mendolla said they have assisted as far to Fresno and Santa Ana.
“We do that for the families that request it,” he said, noting that requests come from those who have ties to San Benito County or a Post 9242 member.
Mendolla said the honor guard serves not only for the funerals of soldiers who died while serving, but also for those of U.S. veterans who died as civilians—or even those who served in the military during peacetime and/or on American soil.
“Everyone that has served this country—here at home, abroad, or in combat, and no matter what branch of service they were in—deserves full military honors,” Mendolla said, explaining that the service includes full military honors such as the firing of the three volleys, the playing of the melancholy bugle call “Taps,” and the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag to the next of kin.
“They all left their homes, families and friends to serve this country and were ready to do their part if called upon,” he said.
And these services are available and can be given to any U.S. veteran who has passed away—for free—according to Ramirez.
“When a veteran passes, the family can tell the funeral home that they are a veteran,” he said. “The burials and the honor guard are at no charge. We do it as an honor. And the ceremonies are not always at burials. We’ve done them at churches and private residences.”
Regardless of the veteran, the VFW Post 9242 Honor Guard treats every funeral with the same level of dignity and respect.
“Sometimes we go to funerals where there’s only five family members, and sometimes there’s a lot of family,” Ramirez said. “We’ve also done it for homeless veterans—and it’s all the same honor for us.”
For more information on the Hollister VFW Post 9242 Honor Guard, visit its social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. To request services, contact your local funeral home, email vfwpost9242@gmail.com or call Bernie Ramirez at (831) 902-7811.
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