Big Bend Honor Guard

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Background and History

Tallahassee’s Big Bend Honor Guard Subsequent to the official notice of the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC) to be constructed in Tallahassee, on September 1, 2015, Don Trussell (since deceased and interred at the cemetery) put out a request for volunteers to participate in an Honor Guard to perform at the cemetery. At a September meeting, an email contact list of members from various Veteran Service Organizations was generated, with twenty-six volunteers providing phone and email contact information. Jim Geuin (Submarine Veteran and member of USSVI and the American Legion Post 13) agreed to be coordinator for the newly designated Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG). He is ably assisted by Commander John Folsom of the American Legion Post 13 in Tallahassee, and Commander James Brennan of the American Legion Post 84 in Havana, Florida.

At an October 11th organizational meeting, with twelve volunteers present, the TNC Director announced October 16th as the first day, with an 11 am ceremony. Beginning October 19th, burials could be scheduled. The Director stated that the cemetery directly represents 34 counties in North Florida, South Georgia and Alabama, but is not limited to those areas alone. Also discussed was the need to settle on a uniform that would be respectful for interment services at the TNC. When this decision was made, it was submitted to the TNC Director and, once approved, known as the “Uniform of the Day.”

Several organizational meetings were conducted at the American Legion Post 13 between September 2015 and January 2016. Emphasis was on the proper folding of the American Flag, and arrangements were made to take the Springfield 1903A3 rifles from the Legion Post to the Talon range for practice. Two separate practice sessions were scheduled, but not well attended. Subsequently, the TNC Director announced that we could, with proper notice, practice at the TNC, any time after the 2 pm interment on a weekday. The Big Bend Honor Guard was organized as a subcommittee of the VetEventsTally organization, a 501(c)(3) not for profit, tax exempt entity and organizers of the “Best Veterans Day Parade in Tallahassee.” Bevis Funeral Home of Tallahassee gifted the Big Bend Honor Guard with a ceremonial bugle and an electronic insert.

On January 20th, the VFW was scheduled to inter one of their members at the National Cemetery, and an Honor Guard was pieced together to perform at the service. On January 25th, an Army veteran was buried at the Roselawn Cemetery in Tallahassee . . . our first event outside the TNC. This was followed by another at the same cemetery the following day.

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