Sacred Honor

Sacred Honor

            I am a chaplain with the honorary rank of captain with the United States Volunteers/America. This is a veterans’ service organization, which claims the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders”.  We provide “Final Military Honors” at veterans’ funerals and committal services at National Cemeteries.

            I was recently called by the commander of California’s 31st Regiment to provide services for a “Rosie to Riveter”.  She had assembled aircraft in World War Two.

            I came up with the texts for two services and ran off programs for each. I put on my modified Army Service Uniform aka Dress Blues and got into a rental car. I drove nearly 40 miles to get to the funeral home. There I was met by a crowd of 75 people including uniformed Veterans of Foreign Wars members, who folded the flag off the casket and played. Taps. I, of course, lead worship.

            After an interval we formed a funeral procession.  Veterans on motorcycles with flags provided an escort. We drove over sixty miles to Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.

            Once at the cemetery, there was another interval. As we offered the appropriate prayers, we were accompanied by veterans on horseback with flags.

            After I gave my final benediction, I got in my rental car for a long drive home. Along the way I realized what a “Sacred honor” it had been to be the chaplain at these two services.

In Christ,

Chaplain (Capt.) Edgar S. Welty, Jr. United States Volunteers/America

Aka.     Rev. Edgar S. Welty, United Church of Christ

Also:    Spec Five Welty, HQ Co. 18^th. Eng. Bde. U. S. Army, 1976-1980

            Member:             Disabled American Veterans

                                    Scottish-American Military Society

                                    Vets to Vets