Mason City Honor Guard

03/10/2026

Supporting Those Who Honor Our Veterans 🇺🇸

Today was a special day for the Mason City Honor Guard! Commander Charlie West and Member Dave Hughes were out in the community delivering plaques and certificates of appreciation to the incredible local businesses that helped fund our new uniforms.

We are truly humbled by the generosity of:

First Citizens Bank
Metalcraft Inc.
Dean Snyder Construction
Clear Lake Bank & Trust
North Iowa Bus Service
Heartland Credit Union

Because of your support, our team can continue to serve with pride and professionalism. Thank you for standing with us!

03/09/2026

"Freedom lives because they were willing to defend it."

I can’t contribute much, but I like to create artwork to honor those who serve our country. I don’t always get to put as much time and effort into these sketches as I would like, but here is a rough tribute honoring two Iowa soldiers who gave their lives in the recent Iranian attack in Kuwait.

Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, answered the call of duty and represented the very best of our state and our country. Their sacrifice is a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy are defended every day by men and women willing to stand in harm’s way for the rest of us.

My prayers are with their families, their fellow soldiers, and the communities that raised them.

We are also learning of a third service member with ties to West Des Moines who may have been lost in the same attack. As more details are confirmed, our hearts and prayers will be with that family as well.

Freedom lives because they were willing to defend it.

🇺🇸 Iowa will remember.

03/06/2026

The Mason City Honor Guard joins the entire State of Iowa in mourning the loss of two of our own.

Major Jeffery O’Brien (45, of Waukee) and Sergeant Declan Coady (20, of West Des Moines) were killed in the line of duty on March 1st while serving with the U.S. Army Reserve 103rd Sustainment Command in Kuwait.

In accordance with the Governor’s order, flags are to be flown at half-staff effective immediately. They will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of their final interment.

We stand in silence and respect for their families and their fellow soldiers. Their watch is over; we will remember them.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered Iowa flags to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of Maj. Jeffery O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines — Army Reserve soldiers killed in Kuwait.

02/21/2026

Honoring Our Heroes - Supported by You 🇺🇸

At the Mason City Honor Guard, we believe providing final honors for our Veterans is a sacred duty. That is why the MCHG never charges a family for the services we provide.

Our members donate 100% of their time, often traveling to rural areas in all kinds of weather, to ensure every Veteran is honored with the respect they earned. To keep our mission going, we rely on:

▪️Generous donations from neighbors like you.
▪️Support from VFW Post 733 and American Legion Post 101.
▪️Plus, we've recently started receiving small grants from the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund for providing military honors at a Veteran’s funeral.

This new funding source is a huge help in covering equipment and fuel stipends for our volunteers, ensuring we never have to pass a cost on to a grieving family.

Want to help us continue our mission? As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all donations to the MCHG are tax-deductible.

If you or your organization are interested in supporting our work, please send us a message right here on Facebook! We’d love to chat with you about how you can help.

MCHG: Honoring the past, guarding the present, inspiring the future.

American Legion of Iowa VFW Department of Iowa Cerro Gordo County Iowa Veterans Affairs

02/10/2026

Today, the Mason City Honor Guard had the distinct privilege of providing military honors for Anthony D. Babcock, a proud U.S. Marine.

Anthony wasn't just a Marine; as his family shared, being a Marine was who he was. From rucking trails to his service as a combat veteran, he lived with a level of grit and "stubborn determination" that can only be admired.

It was an honor to stand for him today, rendering the final salute, the firing of volleys, and the sounding of Taps. We presented the folded flag to his family as a small token of a nation's gratitude for his service and his "all in" spirit.

To Anthony’s fiancée, Christen, his children, and the many friends that are his family: Thank you for allowing us to be part of his send-off.

Rest easy, brother. We have the watch from here. 🇺🇸

MCHG: Honoring the past, guarding the present, inspiring the future.

02/01/2026

Today, we remember and honor the Four U.S. Army Chaplains, also known as the "Immortal Chaplains," who gave their lives on February 3, 1943, following the torpedoing of the U.S. Army troop transport USAT Dorchester.

When the ship was struck, these four men of different faiths - a Methodist minister, a Rabbi, a Catholic priest, and a Reformed Church minister - calmed the frightened, directed the confused, and ultimately gave up their own life jackets so others might live. They were last seen linked arm-in-arm on the tilting deck, praying together as the ship went down.

Their sacrifice remains one of the most powerful examples of "Service Before Self" and interfaith unity in our nation's military history.

MCHG: Honoring the past, guarding the present, inspiring the future.

Today is Four Chaplains Sunday, how is your post commemorating the day?

01/27/2026

Yesterday, the Mason City Honor Guard had the distinct privilege of providing military funeral honors for George D. Shafer.

George was a dedicated servant to his country and his community. A U.S. Army veteran, he served two tours of duty (1954–1957 and 1961–1964), spending much of his time as a Military Police officer in Germany. His commitment to his fellow veterans didn’t end with his discharge; he continued his service right here at home, serving as VFW Post 733 Commander from 1975–1976.

It was an honor to stand for George one last time. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the many nieces and nephews he mentored throughout his life.

Our prayers are with the Shafer family as we lay this old soldier to rest: "Rest easy, brother. We have the watch from here." 🇺🇸

MCHG: Honoring the past, guarding the present, inspiring the future.

01/23/2026

Today, the Mason City Honor Guard had the privilege of providing military honors for U.S. Army Veteran Mervin H. Schmidt. Despite the frigid temperatures, it was our distinct honor to stand for a man who stood for us all those years ago in Korea.

Mervin was a true "Infantryman's Infantryman." As a recipient of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he served on the front lines during the Korean War, participating in three major campaigns. He often recalled his first night in-country, a harrowing experience where he was left alone as a radio operator in enemy territory while the fighting raged around him.

His shadow box tells the story of a hero: the Korean Service Medal with three bronze battle stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the 50th Anniversary Korean War Medal, a token of deep gratitude from the Republic of Korea.

Beyond his decorated service, Mervin was a man of faith, a hardworking farmer from Greene, and a gifted craftsman who spent his later years in Mason City creating intricate woodwork to give away to others.

Our prayers are with the Schmidt family as we lay this old soldier to rest: "Rest easy, brother. We have the watch from here."

MCHG: Honoring the past, guarding the present, inspiring the future.

01/18/2026

A Night of Honor at the Mason City Arena.

Last night, our team presented the colors for Military Appreciation Weekend with the North Iowa Bulls Hockey.

It was an fun evening shared with fellow veterans and our friends from Retrieving Freedom, - 🐾🇺🇸 - an organization dedicated to providing life-changing service dogs to veterans and children with autism.

Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support!

MCHG: Honoring the past, guarding the present, inspiring the future.

01/17/2026

Today, January 17, marks the start of Operation Desert Storm. An Allied collation effort to liberate Kuwait from the occupation of Saddam Hussein's Iraq. While this date is a milestone in our Nation’s history, it is deeply significant to North Iowa as we remember the deployment of our own 1133rd Transportation Company.

The men and women of the 1133rd took Iowa grit to the desert, serving as the "Lifeblood of the Desert" by hauling essential supplies to the front lines under extreme conditions. Their professionalism and courage are vital chapters in the story of our community and our Country.

The Mason City Honor Guard salutes the veterans of the 1133rd. and of the Gulf War. We honor your service and we remain forever grateful. 🇺🇸

MCHG: Honoring the past, guarding the present, inspiring the future.