Peninsula Veterans Color and Honor Guard
Honor Guard at Mt Tahoma
OUR TEAM
The PVCHG is a voluntary organization consisting of military veterans who take pride in serving the families of deceased veterans.
We are seeking volunteers to join our organization
Our primary function is to provide dedication ceremonies for fellow veterans being interred at Tahoma National Cemetery in Covington, WA. We are committed to performing these events on the fourth Thursday of each month, (excluding November). A typical day would involve six to ten services, each lasting about 20 minutes. We perform chaplain duties and provide a rifle team for the three volley salute. Flag folding and presentation are done by active service members.
Originally formed in 2001 by several local vets, at one time we had over 25 members. But as time goes on our ranks are diminishing. Many of our current members are facing physical challenges and we are trying to meet the requirement with fewer and fewer members.
Even though you many be actively employed, we could still utilize your service. Some of our non-Tahoma services that recognize our country’s veterans are on weekends or holidays. While we don’t do many of these, we attempt to honor requests if we have members available that volunteer their time. These ceremonies are scheduled on a case by case basis.
Capt Ron Prynne
Veterans Burial Rights
Are you aware of your veterans burial rights?
Burial at no charge in the National Cemetery is open to ALL members of the Armed Services as long as you were discharged under conditions OTHER THAN dishonorable. Spouses, unmarried widows or widowers, unmarried minor children are also eligible. An eligible spouse may be buried even if he/she pre-deceases the veteran.
The bural, at no charge, includes a grave site, opening and closing of the grave, a pre-set liner, a government marker and perpetual care.
NOTE: Spaces are assigned at the time of need and CANNOT be reserved.
Tahoma National Cemetery provides a choice of burial options: In ground casket burials, in ground cremations, and columbaria wall cremation vaults.
ARRANGEMENTS
The next of kin or the family’s funeral director may make the arrangements directly through the Tahoma National Cemetery Staff
Tahoma National Cemetery
18600 SE 240th Street
Kent, WA 98042-4868
425-413-9614
Discharge papers and SSAN/service serial number will be required.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Peninsula Veterans Honor Guard is open to any veteran. Our by-law (governed by the VFW) require a member belong to a veterans service organization.
While most are members of the VFW or American Legion, there are many other veteran service organizations that meet the requirement. See va.gov/vso for a list.
Thanks to generous financial support, our non-profit organization is able to cover the cost of your uniform and insignia; we havea supply on hand, with multiple web-sites for anything needed to completely outfit the new member.
We also have an 11 passenger van which we use to transport the team to/from Tahoma or any other ceremony. The van is specially equipped to transport our rifles, blank ammunition, and othe required equipment.
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING OUR TEAM
CONTACTS:
Ron Prynne 509-393-4818
Glen Wade 253-265-2464
Ted Street 360-769-2217