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Active in Guttenberg Local veterans honor the fallen at military funerals

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From left are veterans Loris Kickbush, who's been active with the volunteer group of Guttenberg veterans providing military rites at funerals for 15 years, Charlene Andregg, 25 years, and Clark Bolsinger, 35 years. Veterans willing to join the efforts of members of the American Legion, VFW, and AmVets to honor the fallen should contact Andregg at (563) 252-2824. (Press photo by Molly Moser)

By Molly Moser

This Veterans Day, you may see our nation’s heroes dressed in their finest, carrying flags and rifles and responding to commands from a comrade. Those traditions aren’t reserved for Nov. 11. A dedicated group of Guttenberg volunteer veterans provides full military rites for every veteran who dies in the area. “The military funeral is our last farewell to a comrade,” said American Legion member Charlene Andregg, who gathers the men and women for each funeral. “All honorably discharged veterans are entitled to that.”

Military honors require a squad of 16 people: Seven shooters, two ‘dead’ guns surrounding the flags, three flag holders for the Stars and Stripes, the American Legion flag, the VFW flag, and the AmVets flag, one person to call commands, one to present the flag, and two buglers. The Guttenberg group has been recognized and commended by the families of many deceased veterans for the professional, honorable job they do. “We have the best military funerals around here,” Andregg said. “But we are all getting older. I’ve been doing it for 25 years; Clark Bolsinger, even longer. We are all getting up there in years.”

Andregg, along with Bolsinger, who has indeed spent over 35 years honoring deceased veterans in military funerals, and Loris Kickbush, who adds his own 15 years to the program, have taken turns doing the recruiting for each funeral. “I’m hoping that by getting the word out, some of the area vets will start to help out. I understand that some of the young people are working, and they’ve seen so much that they don’t want to see it again,” Andregg told The Press. “Talk to someone from the Legion, or call me at 252-2824.”

Newcomers will start by holding flags or dead guns, which are not shot, during the ceremony. Military funerals include the 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. The salute is one of the best-known military traditions, started to honor the dead by showing their weapons were no longer hostile. The firing of three volleys also harkens back to traditional battle ceasefires, where the volleys indicated the dead were cleared and properly cared for. Taps was composed by an Army general during the Civil War to signal lights out, and has become a traditional way to honor the extinguishing of a life. 

Before each military funeral, the sixteen participants meet to load the guns and flags. They wait at the cemetery for families to arrive, standing at attention while the remains are moved in. After the ceremony, they collect the 21 cartridges to be presented to the family of the deceased. “A lot of the grandkids like to have them,” said Bolsinger. Andregg makes special bags to hold the cartridges.

“The best compliment we got was after a service at Bethel Cemetery. We had a full contingent there, and when the wife pulled up and saw everyone, she was really impressed,” Andregg explained. “She wrote us a letter and gave a $100 donation.” The volunteer organization’s only source of revenue is donations, yet they often provide more participants than in larger cities and strive to maintain a professional appearance. Each veteran wears his or her cap, significant jacket, black pants, and white shirt to military funerals. “We like to make a good impression on the family,” said Kickbush.

The local group is made up mainly of American Legion members as well as members of the VFW and AmVets. The Legion is the oldest wartime organization, and it welcomes all vets who served during wartime. The VFW invites those veterans who served overseas during wartime, and the AmVets is open to all veterans. The Legion meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Legion Room of the municipal building. The VFW meets at the same place on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., and the AmVets meet more casually at the Eagles Club in Guttenberg.

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