WE BURY ANOTHER VETERAN--
The American Legion funeral squad buried another local veteran recently.
Up on the side of a hill in the Bellville Cemetery, WW II veteran Daurl Shaffer, 85, now lays at rest.
Sixteen of his fellow veterans were there that day to honor Shaffer and all that his service to his country stands for.
The color guard and the rifle squad came to attention as Shaffer’s hearse brought his remains to his resting place and their sharp presentation of the colors and of arms not only honored this man but his family as well.
All mourned his death, but celebrated all that his service to his country and his community meant during his life.
Earlier at the funeral service, family and friends silently shared their intense feelings as Bellville Post 535’s ceremonial squad posted an honor guard at the casket and the entire squad passed by in solemn procession, one-by-one, pausing briefly at the bier to render a personal salute to their fellow serviceman.
Post commander and honor squad leader Paul Brown, was quick to acknowledge the honored passing of countless veterans in the almost 60 years of burial squad history covered by his
memory.
“We do nearly 20 burials annually, a number that seems to grow with the aging of our veteran’s population,” he noted.
As Shaffer’s religious ceremony of the burial concluded, three volleys by the six member rifle squad roared their final salute in the tradition of military history. Then, the stirring sound of Taps sparkled through the air as if originating from the cloudless blue sky.
The flag that draped the casket was sharply folded and presented to the family by a kneeling Brown in farewell to this relative and friend and cherished veteran.
The American Legion funeral squad buried another local veteran recently.
Up on the side of a hill in the Bellville Cemetery, WW II veteran Daurl Shaffer, 85, now lays at rest.
Sixteen of his fellow veterans were there that day to honor Shaffer and all that his service to his country stands for.
The color guard and the rifle squad came to attention as Shaffer’s hearse brought his remains to his resting place and their sharp presentation of the colors and of arms not only honored this man but his family as well.
All mourned his death, but celebrated all that his service to his country and his community meant during his life.
Earlier at the funeral service, family and friends silently shared their intense feelings as Bellville Post 535’s ceremonial squad posted an honor guard at the casket and the entire squad passed by in solemn procession, one-by-one, pausing briefly at the bier to render a personal salute to their fellow serviceman.
Post commander and honor squad leader Paul Brown, was quick to acknowledge the honored passing of countless veterans in the almost 60 years of burial squad history covered by his
memory.“We do nearly 20 burials annually, a number that seems to grow with the aging of our veteran’s population,” he noted.
As Shaffer’s religious ceremony of the burial concluded, three volleys by the six member rifle squad roared their final salute in the tradition of military history. Then, the stirring sound of Taps sparkled through the air as if originating from the cloudless blue sky.
The flag that draped the casket was sharply folded and presented to the family by a kneeling Brown in farewell to this relative and friend and cherished veteran.
Daurl F. Shaffer, July 21, 1922 ~ July 7, 2008In the top photo Howard Kocheiser and John Dodds are the honor guard as Jerry Dillon is one of 16 veterans giving his final salute to fellow veteran Daurl Shaffer. Next lower; Ron Bell and fellow color guard members salute the cortege’s arrival at the cemetery while, below that, Kocheiser and Doyal Jordan stand in solemn reflection.
The Day’s Honor Squad:
Paul Frontz, Jerry Dillon, Dick Kuhn, Taps, Ron Bell, Dick Stone, Paul Brown, Keith Layfield, Bob Piper, Doyal Jordan, Homer Walker, Dave Heichel, Lou Maxwell, John Dodds, Howard Kocheiser, Bob Schrader and Jim Huey.
Other squad members:
Jerry Miller, Ron Flynn, Bob Squires, Ray Bell, Larry Webb, Woody Laux, Jack Reiner, Joe Butterbaugh, Don Fry, Paul McFarland, Dick Windsor, Charles Kvochick, Bill Fletcher and Martin Gerhart.
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