Guernsey speaker Jim Gibson told Cambridge Lions Club members the Guernsey County Veterans Council was formed in the 1980s when council members took over Honor Guard duties at funerals for military veterans, as World War II veterans got older.

"I was invited to play taps to close a Kiwanis meeting," said Gibson. "After the meeting, I was invited to join the Honor Guard for a funeral for a veteran. It was 35 degrees with sleet and freezing rain. The wind was 20 miles per hour. I had on my Navy raincoat. It was not insulated. I used a borrowed VFW hat that I had to stuff with tissue paper."

"I watched the Honor Guard firing party. They stood there not moving a muscle. Ice was hanging off their sleeves. They fired the volleys. From that day on I have been a member of the Honor Guard," concluded Gibson.

The Veterans Council will provide an Honor Guard for any honorably discharged veteran. Arrangements can be made through any funeral director.

Two veterans from the Honor Guard stand at each end of the casket. The stars of the flag will be over the deceased veteran’s left shoulder.

The two veterans will pick up the flag and take a half step to the left to get ready to fold the flag. A special three round rifle volley is used to honor the deceased. A bugler plays Taps. The flag is then folded and presented to the family.

"It is a common misconception that veterans get a 21-gun salute," Gibson said. "A 21-gun salute is only fired by cannons on a ship. It is reserved only for the President or for the highest ranking admiral in the Navy. The three-round volley started during the Civil War. At the end of the day a truce would be declared. The dead and wounded would be taken off the battlefield. The three-round volley would signify the end of the truce."

The tune for Taps was arranged for the bugle by Union Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield. His bugler, Oliver Wilcox Norton, was the first to sound Taps. It soon became the standard for "lights out" for both the Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War.

"We average 90 to 100 military funerals in almost every county in Southeastern Ohio," Gibson said. "Don Tedrick is 95 years old. He still goes to all of them except in the coldest weather. He is a good example for all of us."

"We would like to invite veterans to join us for the Honor Guard. It does require eight hours of training," added Gibson. "We go to community events especially on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. When I go into the schools and see the faces of the young people it’s something you can’t describe. It’s one of the greatest things we can do."

In other club business:

Jon Lobos was a guest of the club.

Tom Davey provided a "thank you" cake from Dickens Victorian Village in appreciation of Lions who helped move the characters to their off-season home.

Davey said that the annual Jammin’ for Johnson event will be held on Feb. 10. The event is named for late Lion Bunk Johnson. The event raises funds for music scholarships. Used band instruments can also be donated for reconditioning and use by local band students.

Tom Cahoon presented a patch for the Lions banner recognizing the club for its vision screening program.

President Ralph Ray read thank you notes from the Senior Citizens Center, Secret Santa, Camp Echoing Hills and Pilot Dogs.

The Cambridge Lions Club meets every Monday at 12 noon at Mr. Lee’s Restaurant Banquet Room.