Final Salute Program Results

 

“Honoring Those Who Serve”

The American Legion Post 196 Final Salute program

This program is to renew the tradition of saluting a veteran’s casket when it arrives for a funeral at a church, synagogue or mosque.

The results of this program :

1. Post 196 legionnaires have had the honor and the opportunity to have an active role in rendering a final salute to a deceased veterans from our community We are in Daily communication with seven funeral homes in the Milford/West Haven area. These include Christian, Jewish, Muslim and a Sikh temple. We have placed 75 Legionnaires and attended over 50 funerals in the Milford/West Haven area. To accomplish this we have 21 volunteers, 19 Active.

• This Program has demonstrated to family and friends the respect and commitment that Post 196 has for our deceased veterans. Since starting this program we have received several telephone calls from the family and friends of deceased veterans thanking us for this warm and patriotic display of America at its best. Beginning in February 2019 we have rendered the “Final Salute” at funeral homes when there has been no service at a church, synagogue or mosque. To date we have rendered thirteen final salutes at funeral homes.

• The program has provided visual proof to all those attending veterans’ funerals in our area that the American Legion is now and is continuing to be a vibrant part of our community. To date approximately 1,960 people have witnessed our Legionnaires as we render the final salute. The funeral homes have been very generous in supplying our Legionnaires with white gloves and have indicated their desire to support Legion programs.

Whenever The American Legion is assisting the United States Government we conform to the DOD’s methods of conduct. In working together, we honor, in the highest traditions of American military service, those who have gone before. In doing so, all the requirements for a reverent, respectful, and dignified ceremony are met.