Guard members now honorary Brigadier Generals

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard

Recognized as honorary Brigadier Generals are American Legion Post 173 Honor Guard members, front row, from left, Emanuel Brewer, W.C. Chilton, Horace Watts and Edward Molloy. Back row, Charles Norton, I.V. Hillis, Winfred Casey and Cecil Prater.

They’ve traveled over a hundred miles to perform military graveside services, sometimes battling rain and cold weather in the process.

It’s that dedication which earned members of our local American Legion Honor Guard the distinction of becoming honorary Brigadier Generals. The certificates were distributed by County Executive Carol Hamblen Tuesday morning, and were signed by Hoyte Robinson, Tennessee Department Commander of the American Legion.

“We feel very strongly every military veteran is entitled to a military service if they want one,” said Honor Guard member Charles Norton.

Members of the Post 173 Honor Guard are available to perform military burial rites in Warren County and every county which borders Warren County. That includes DeKalb, Grundy, Cannon, Van Buren and Coffee counties.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever turned anyone down,” said Winfred Casey, who recalled trips as far away as Lewisberg, Crossville and Murfreesboro.

The Honor Guard is one of the few of its kind in Tennessee. The all-volunteer group pays for its expenses and furnishes its own supplies. Cecil Prater is the group’s senior member. A World War II veteran, Prater, 83, has been performing with the Honor Guard since 1947 – a span of 55 years.

Including services they will conduct today, the Honor Guard has already been called upon 16 times this year. Last year, the group participated in 65 funerals, with Emanuel Brewer and Norton leading attendance by making 55 of those trips.

Through the years, there have been some memorable occurrences.

“I remember one funeral in Grundy County where the preacher didn’t make it to the graveyard,” said Prater. “Herb Klasek drove to a nearby house, borrowed a Bible, and read some scripture.”

Norton recalled another funeral where the veteran’s former wife and current wife sat side by side in the front row. Afterwards, they both wanted a flag. “Fortunately one of us had an extra flag in the car,” Norton said.