The 21-gun salute and the haunting notes of taps playing over the cemetery marks the end of a war veteran’s life. Saluting the life of a veteran is sacred for the members of the Honor Guard from VFW Post 8083. Dan Horen has been a member for several years and participates in a funeral in The Villages area about every week.
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Dan joined the US Air Force at age 18.
“I was all over the world for the next 24 years before retiring,” he says. That included service in Vietnam working in munitions, three years as a fireman, and then writing computer software. “When I joined the Air Force I wanted to work with computers. But, as usual, the government had a different idea of what they wanted me to do for them.”
His final post was in Cheyenne, Wyoming where he decided to stay after a four-month tour around the country visiting old service buddies and their families. Since golf was one of his passions, he landed the job of irrigation specialist at the base golf course, eventually rising to assistant groundskeeper. He played a lot of golf in the warm weather and “snowbirded” in The Villages, where he played more golf.
“My aunt and uncle have lived in The Villages for about 26 years and I would stay with them when I was here.”
After 18 years of living here and there, Dan decided it was time to move to The Villages permanently in 2013, settling in the Village of Palo Alto. His interest in the Honor Guard came through his uncle, who was a member.
“Sometimes, when I was visiting, I’d drive him to a ceremony and the VFW asked me to make a video of a service. Now I do one service a week on average.”
The Honor Guard usually consists of 12 members: seven riflemen, two buglers, the person calling the cadence, the chaplain and the master of ceremonies.
“Sometimes we have fewer people available, but can we still perform the ceremony. I’m 68 and I’m one of the youngest members of the Guard,” he laughs. “We just got a new member – he’s 95. We need new members!”
The Honor Guard will attend the funeral of any serviceperson and are actively recruiting for new members. Guard members must be members of the VFW. Training in the use of arms and other ceremonial responsibilities is provided as necessary.
“I had to be trained in the rifle drill,” Dan says. “We don’t do that in the Air Force.”
Women who have served in combat theaters are also welcome.
The Honor Guard provides military honor and burial ceremonies for the families of all honorably discharged deceased veterans in The Villages area. It does not matter where or how long they served. Families who want an Honor Guard present at a veteran’s funeral (or anyone who wants to join the Honor Guard) can contact Honor Guard Commander Bob Seguin at VFW Post 8083 at (352) 245-8083.
The Honor Guard wears the VFW uniform and patches. “I wear my military ribbons and most of us wear our rank on our shoulders,” Day says.
The Honor Guard ceremony has a number of events, lasts about 20 minutes and includes prayers, poems, the 21-gun salute, the service anthem, flag folding and presentation, and playing “Taps.” The 8083 Guard usually uses two bugles, one playing a few seconds later than the other, to simulate the echo one might expect on a battlefield. Since buglers are difficult to find, the instruments are fitted with inserts that play the music automatically.
The Fallen Soldier display is a recent addition. Consisting of a rifle thrust muzzle first into a base with boots and a helmet perched on the rifle butt, it represents the makeshift battlefield memorial.
“Fallen and wounded soldiers are usually taken away quickly so their comrades might not get a chance to say ‘good bye’ or otherwise honor them. So, the display would be set up at the rear of the fighting to give them that opportunity,” Dan noted.
One of the extra flourishes is the presentation of a VFW Teddy Bear to the family.
“We call it our ‘Huggy Bear’ – something soft for them to hold onto from our VFW,” Horen said.
In addition to golfing several times a week, Dan also has annual passes to Disney World and Universal Theme Park.
“I go to Disney often – it’s the premier one. Sometimes I just decide that I want to go tomorrow. The Flower and Garden Show are just over, and the wine festival starts in August. Sometimes I just go down for lunch.”
For the future Dan says he just want to play golf and keep enjoying himself. The Honor Guard is definitely part of that future. “The families of the deceased are so appreciative that we can be a part of the ceremony and honor the service of their loved one.”
John W Prince is a writer and Villages resident. Learn more at www.GoMyStory.com.
