Veteran’s Corner

Jason Hicks | Commander United Patriotic bodies

Fargo Memorial Honor Guard

As I write this article, the snow is here and so is the cold.

Last week we conducted our first funeral of the year. The weather wasn’t terrible. We have become quite adaptive to the conditions. We made the purchase of heated vests and heated gloves and it has made a huge difference. Now if only we could have a nice place to answer the call of nature. Yep as the season is here so is the closure of the much contested outhouse. Not designed for ND winter, the water freezes and then is closed for the season. The ever present porta potty is now there. Hopefully this year temps will not freeze that into a solid block (last year my wife attended a service and had to use a frozen porta potty) Needless to say, fight battles that can be fought, which brought us to breaking ground for the Veterans Memorial Center.

With this new year also comes the call for volunteers. We (The Fargo Memorial Honor Guard) are in need of more people to help with services. If I had a nickel for every time I heard, “I will help, but…..” I understand lives are busy but one day a week for a couple hours? I am constantly seeing the military service hats and military license plates and all of the advertisements of “I served” why not continue to serve fellow Veterans? Once you have performed one military funeral or parade you will want to be involved. I will bet a coke on it.

I look forward to the new year and of the excitement it brings.