Coast Guard veteran Jim Gant is presented with a new life membership card for VFW Post 10346.
The Yadkin Honor Guard was, at last, presented its award from the North Carolina American Legion for Honor Guard of the Year 2019. The award was not able to be presented to the group during the last year due to pandemic restrictions on gatherings.
David Shore, commander of American Legion Post 336 in East Bend, presented the award. Shore said that applications were received from VFW posts across the state and that Yadkin County VFW Post 10346 came in with the top honors.
“This honor guard was the first in North Carolina to be recognized as an authorized provider of military funeral honors program,” Shore explained.
In 2019 the Yadkin Honor Guard presented military honors at 57 funerals. The average for the post is around 75 funerals per year. Shore said aside from funerals, the Honor Guard has developed a 45-minute POW/MIA program which it presents at churches and area schools around patriotic holidays. The group also takes part in annual ceremonies for Veterans Day and Memorial Day as well as area Christmas and Independence Day parades.
The diversity of programming is what won the group the award, Shore said.
During the meeting the new officers VFW Post 10346 for 2021 were installed.
U.S. Coast Guard veteran Jim Gant was also presented with a new life membership card. Gant served during World War II and in the Korean War, said Pete Knight, who made a special presentation of giving Gant a new copy of his membership card in the VFW.
Kitsey Burns Harrison may be reached at 336-258-4035 or follow her on Twitter @news_shewrote.