Honor Guard – What we Do
Veterans Continuing to Serve America
Mission and Purpose The Honors & Ceremonies Committee is a dedicated group of veterans responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting veteran funeral honors, ceremonies, and parades on behalf of American Legion Post 543. As one of the most visible groups within the Post, both in our community and throughout Brunswick County, we strive to uphold the highest standards of military bearing, professionalism, and appearance in everything we do.
Honor Guard Responsibilities
Military Funeral Honors The Honor Guard provides military funeral honors for deceased veterans. This is our highest-priority mission. We have established relationships with several local funeral homes and churches, which notify us when a family requests military honors. There is no charge for this service. In FY 2023 (July 2022 through June 2023), the Honor Guard conducted 18 veteran funeral honor ceremonies.
Ceremonies
The Honor Guard plans, coordinates, and conducts four major patriotic ceremonies each year in support of the Town of St. James: the Memorial Day Ceremony, 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Veterans Day Ceremony, and Wreaths for the Fallen ceremony. Local dignitaries are invited, and all ceremonies are open to the public.
Parades
The Honor Guard represents Post 543 in parades throughout the region. We march in the NC Fourth of July Parade in Southport, the Veterans Day Parade in Wilmington, and the Christmas by the Sea Parade in Oak Island. We also prepare a trailer to serve as a float for other Post members to ride on. The trailer is loaned by a local business for the day, and securing access to a trailer remains an ongoing challenge.
Flag Ceremonies
Local civic organizations, including the DAR, Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, the July 4th Festival, and other groups, request Honor Guard support for their events. We conduct flag-raising ceremonies and color presentations for civic organizations throughout Brunswick County. In FY 2023, the Honor Guard conducted 14 color presentations for local civic organizations.
Cape Fear Memorial Park
The Honor Guard maintains the National and service flags that fly at Cape Fear Memorial Park on Highway 211. The service flags are changed on the first Saturday of each month, and we lower the flags to half-staff in response to Presidential proclamations. The flags are provided by Peabody, Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, owners of Cape Fear Memorial Park. In FY 2023, the Honor Guard changed the flags 12 times.
Post Meetings
The Honor Guard presents the colors at the beginning of each monthly Post meeting and retires the colors at the end. This duty is rotated among Honor Guard members and assigned during the monthly practice session. In FY 2023, the Honor Guard conducted 11 color presentations at Post meetings.
Meetings and Practice
The Honor Guard meets monthly at the Community Center one week before the Post meeting. Practice sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Additional practice sessions are held as needed to ensure we perform to the highest possible standard.
