Honoring Veterans 

Color & Honor Guards

A deceased Veteran is eligible to receive Military Funeral Honors based upon qualifying criteria.  The Honors are conducted by the Active-Duty/Guard/Reserve Honor Guard Teams and supported by the American Legion as required.  

The American Legion augments the Active-Duty Honor Guard team with the following services.

AMERICAN LEGION HONOR GUARD

• The American Legion Honor Guard is an all-volunteer team
• Subject to team availability   
• Services may include:
  • Three Volley Salute
  • TAPS
  • Flag Folding & Presentation
  • 3 Casings Presentation
• Donations are accepted and checks payable to:  American Legion Post 129, Attn: Honor Guard
   

AMERICAN LEGION COLOR GUARD

Organizations that require the Posting of Colors or other Commemoration Services may request the Color Guard Team. 

• Four-person volunteer team
• Subject to team availability
• Services may include:
  • Two-person team carrying the US Flag and Arizona State Flag
  • Two-person Rifle-Bearing/Escort Team
  • Posting of Colors
  • TAPS as required
  • Retrieval of Colors
• Donations are accepted and checks payable to:  American Legion Post 129, Attn: Color Guard

Honor/Color Guard

At the discretion of the Post Commander, the Duane Ellsworth Post 129 Honor/Color Guard is available for any ceremony that is suitable for a military guard. Members of the Honor/Color Guard are comprised of current members in good standing of the Post 129 Family. This may include members of American Legion Post 129, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 129, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 129. Care must be taken that the ceremony, event, or any part of the event is not supportive of a cause or activity that may cast the American Legion in a negative or controversial light or bring discredit to the Post simply by association.

What is an Honor Guard?

An Honor Guard is a team of American Legion Family members that is made available for funeral or memorial services for a departed veteran.   One part of an Honor Guard is the Flag Detail. This detail is responsible for folding the American flag used during the ceremony and presenting the Flag to the veteran's family. The second part of the Honor Guard is the Rifle Squad. The rifle squad is responsible for the 21-gun salute. There may also be a bugler who will play T.A.P.S. If available, one or more of the "teams" may be provided by active military units and/or other organizations.

What is a Color Guard?

An American Legion Color Guard is a team of, at minimum, one flag bearer and two rifle guards. The flag bearers will carry the American flag, and possibly, a POW/MIA flag, a state flag, U.S. military service branch flags, and/or American Legion family flags. The Color Guard can march in parades, present the Colors at indoor or outdoor events, or teach flag etiquette in school or community classrooms. In some cases, a Color Guard may be combined with other organizations' Color Guards, depending on the event.

Anyone interested in requesting the Honor Guard/Color Guard should email their request to the following email: . They may also call the Legion at (480) 977-6869 to log their request.  All requests should include contact information so the Captain can call to confirm Honor/Color Guard participation and obtain additional details about the event.

Post 129's Honor/Color Guard

Members                                 Role

Donald Ayers                        Captain
Scott Sossaman                    Rifle, Bugle & Flag
Huxley Madeheim                Rifle & Flag
Katie Siegel                           Rifle & Flag
Dennis Walker                      Rifle & Flag
Imre Kertesz                         Rifle & Flag
Charles Ridgeway                Rifle & Flag

Active-Duty/Reserves/Guard Military Funeral Team Services:

1. Contact the Funeral Home
2. Have the Funeral Home contact the Active-Duty Military Funeral Honors Team from the following website:  

 https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/tools/military-funeral-honors-directory/