American Legion Post 19 Honor Guard

In 2004 past Post Commander Sam Doucet organized a group of volunteers from the post to form an Honor Guard in order to render military honors to deceased veterans from Jefferson Davis Parish. The first military honors rendered by the Honor Guard were for Louis Crader on August 11, 2004. Religious services were conducted at Matthews & Son Funeral Home in Jennings, with burial honors performed at Istre Cemetery in Mermentau.

 Since its inception, the Honor Guard has performed over 700 military protocols.  Pictured and seated from left to right are current (as of July 31, 2021) Guard members Rebecca Doucet, Sam Doucet and Grace Dalton; standing, left to right, are Charles Burrell, Larry Guidry, Glenn McFarlain, Bill Caraway, Horace Naquin, Tyler Schexnayder, and Darrell Landry.  Dennis Langley (not pictured) is also a current member of the unit.  Legionnaires who have served with the Guard over the last seventeen years include Ed Gary, Doug Daigle, John Ryan, Wayne Ledbetter, Johnny Landry, Doug Humbarger, Colin Fake, Charles Sonnier, John Louviere, Tony Landry, Jerry Lege’, Bob Doucet, and Wilbert “Tee” Comeaux.   

The Guard members consider it a privilege to pay tribute to their brothers- and sisters-in arms. The Guard is composed of volunteers from Post 19. They receive their support requests from the veterans’ families through the funeral homes in Jeff Davis Parish. The military honors are provided free of charge. The Guard is able to function indoors or outdoors, as the situation requires. Each Guard member is assigned specific duties for each service. The rifle squad executes 3 volleys of rifle fire followed by the bugler sounding TAPS for the faithfully departed. The ceremonial flag is then carefully folded into three corners in accordance with military tradition and is presented to the family along with the spent rifle cartridges from the salute.

The Honor Guard has also participated in patriotic events conducted for Veterans Day and Memorial Day. The Guard has enjoyed tremendous support from the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home, Walmart, the Zigler Foundation, Jeff Davis Bank, Parker’s Department Store, the Jennings Daily News and the A.J.M. “Bubba” Oustalet, Jr. family.