As a final tribute to acknowledge and recognize the service and sacrifice of fellow veterans, the V.F.W. Post 1371 Honor Guard, based out of Owego, N.Y., dedicates their time at funerals honoring deceased veterans, and many of whom they had never known.
This year to date, the group has participated at about 20 funerals. Within a two-week period in the month of June, the Honor Guard was present at five funerals.
The Honor Guard also marches in area parades and participates in other events and ceremonies, such as Vietnam Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, to name just a few.
The presence of the V.F.W. Honor Guard at funerals emanates an extraordinary significance and lasting memory, as well as extends solace for families and loved ones.
The ceremony typically includes a rifle salute and the presentation of the U.S. Flag, along with a speech by Post members, words of comfort by the Post Chaplain, and concludes with the playing of Taps. Families can request funeral honors through their funeral director who makes arrangements with appropriate contacts.
One recent Honor Guard detail, complete with “full military honors,” was presented in remembrance of V.F.W. Post 1371 member, Frederick “Rick” Mayer, who passed away on June 5 at age 69. The services were held on June 9, at the MacPherson Funeral Home in Newark Valley.
Mayer, a Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was a U.S. Marine who enlisted shortly after graduating from Newark Valley High School. He served in Vietnam from 1968-69.
One of Mayer’s good friends, Dan Seymour, who graduated with Rick at Newark Valley High School, enlisted at the same time as Mayer. The duo completed basic training together.
During training at Parris Island, Seymour explained that Mayer received news that his mother was in poor health. At the time, Seymour said that Mayer, an only child in his family that still stepped up to enlist, was given a “hardship discharge” option because of his mother’s illness.
Seymour recalled that Mayer thought about it briefly, but then announced, “No, I want to be a Marine,” and full aware that he would be shipped out to Vietnam.
The friends’ paths went in separate directions after basic training, but they reunited and kept in touch upon returning home.
When asked about Mayer’s military service, daughter Holly Lavrack commented, “He was pretty private and didn’t tell a lot of stories,” and added, “He became an advocate for helping other veterans.”
Another daughter, Erica Mayer, shared, “We know he saw a lot of action, and because of being shot, he received the Purple Heart,” and further remarked that her father did open up about some of his experiences in more recent years.
The Purple Heart, the oldest military award given to U.S. military members, is awarded to those in the Armed Forces who have been wounded or killed. In March of this year, Tioga County received the “Purple Heart County” designation, which was announced at a ceremony honoring Vietnam Veterans Day. Tioga County joins nearly 1,500 other governments across the country that adopted similar resolutions or proclamations. Eleven road signs are slated for installment throughout Tioga County this year.
Seymour remarked about his friend, Rick, “If he was your friend, he was your friend for life,” and shared, too, that Rick personally struggled with PTSD.
Seymour commented that Mayer’s passion for salt water and deep-sea fishing led him to exotic destinations outside of the United States, and, overall, fishing became one of Mayer’s favorite pastimes. Seymour believed Mayer enjoyed the solitude of the activity, too, which in turn helped him in many ways.
Before he passed away, Seymour said he and Mayer shared these words, “In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
Through the National Association of Christian Ministries, Mayer was ordained a minister later in his life. He was also devoted to his family, including three daughters and several grandchildren.
For families interested in the Honor Guard performing at a funeral, Dean Morgan of V.F.W. Post 1371, explained, “Families need to verify eligibility, meaning that a veteran was honorably discharged and can provide a DD214 Form to a funeral director.”
Morgan also said that the Honor Guard is continually recruiting new members to participate. The Post’s first female member joined in 2016.
Interested veterans must first become a member of the Post. For information, call (607) 687-1371 or find them on Facebook.
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