Local Honor Guard Featured In Montgomery County St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Montgomery County Veterans Honor Guard was formed three years ago from members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 349, The Catholic War Veterans Post 1182, Disabled Veterans of America Chapter 25 and other interested veterans, all from Montgomery County.  

The rifle team fires three volleys over graves at Veteran's burials and other patriotic and memorial ceremonies throughout the year. 

Members are all veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam and other foreign deployments. For the second year, the Greater Pennsylvania Military Vehicle Historical Society has escorted the Honor Guard. 

This year, the presentation was enhanced by having the guard dismount the Jeeps at each intersection over seven blocks in Conshohocken. They came to a quick formation, and upon command, fired a perfect seven rifle volley with M1's to the crowds delight.   Youngsters gathered up the spent shell casings as the guard mounted up and continued along the parade route.   

At the 3rd Avenue reviewing stand, the announcer introduced the GPA and the Honor Guard to the spectators as the last volley was fired. A TV crew captured it all and it was shown on the evening news. They must have been impressed because out of a three hour parade, the jeeps and the Honor Guard got half of the 30 second TV news spot. 

In addition to becoming known from their many events, this public exposure probably increased the public's awareness of the Honor Guard. Honor Guard participants were Charlie Becker, Walter Zamorski, Ron Natale, Frank Bayler, Charles James, Frank DeSimone, Buck Appel and Guy Anhorn.