PINELLAS COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL HONOR GUARD

General News

ATTENTION VETERANS !

You once stood PROUD in your uniform. Stand PROUD once again, in the uniform of the PINELLAS COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL HONOR GUARD.

The PCVC Honor Guard’s major activity is to provide “Military Honors” for our deceased Brothers and Sisters. We are available to our veteran’s families at no charge, to honor fallen loved ones, at memorial, remembrance, and funeral services. While grim, these events offer solace and closure to the families, and are extremely dignified and respectful while honoring our fallen comrades. We render a brief homily; fold and present the Flag; fire a Three Volley Salute; and play Taps. This service is very rewarding to us, knowing that we have served a fellow veteran in his or her final moment, while providing closure for the family.

Our other major activity is “Presenting The Colors” for school graduations, civic clubs, the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball games, corporate events, and most anyone else that wants to start off their affair patriotically. We also march the Colors in local parades.

We are currently expanding our ranks, and are looking for Honorably Discharged vets, male or female, from any of our Military Services.

Time commitment is small. Most funerals require two hours, including driving and dressing time. “Presenting The Colors” usually lasts long enough for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, plus travel/dressing time. The Operations Officer emails the schedule, and the HG members return email saying which events they are available for. We have members that work full time, part time, or are “snow-birds”. Everyone fits the schedule into their life as they can. (If married, “honey-do’s” generally have priority.) We have a monthly meeting, normally lasting one hour. There are no dues, and the PCVC pays ALL* of the initial uniform cost, and all replacement costs.  JOIN US !

For information, please call or email Commander Ed Lillich, @ 727-546-2246 / elillich@AOL.com, or Operations Officer Herb Karkheck @ 727-455-1134 / herbflight@tampabay.rr.com. *there is some fine print!

 

About Jeff Cavanagh

Jeff Cavanagh spent his freshman year at St. Petersburg Junior College back in the early 70s before enlisting in the United States Navy. Soon after, he attended Jacksonville University on a Navy ROTC scholarship. After college, he was commissioned and became a qualified Surface Warfare Officer spending the next 22 years honing his skills as a ship-handler and expert recruiter before retiring in 1994. Jeff expresses a deep sense of pride in St. Petersburg College due to connections that go back many years. His father, Tom Cavanagh, was a career Air Force fighter pilot and combat veteran who taught Geography and Western Civilization at St. Petersburg Junior College in the 60’s and 70’s.