Story by: 1st Lt. Ernesto C. Garcia
Posted: June 3, 2015
Texas State Guard soldiers from the 2nd Regiment served as the Honor Guard along with the Capital City VFW Post 8787, Austin, Texas, at the VFW Memorial Day ceremony the Cook-Walden/ Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas, May 25, 2015. Sgt. Maj. Morris Hickman, 2nd Regiment, had the honor to play taps. The Texas State Guard serves the people of Texas during natural or man-made disasters and assists communities during local events. (Texas State Guard photo by 1st Lt. Ernesto C. Garcia/Released)
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas State Guard paid tribute to the fallen soldiers on Memorial Day at the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas, May 25, 2015. At the request of the Capital City VFW Post 8787, located in Austin, Texas, soldiers of the 2nd Regiment, Texas State Guard, participated in the VFW Memorial Day ceremony. One soldier from the 2nd Regiment, Sgt. Maj. Morris Hickman, had the honor to play taps.
When members of VFW Post 8787 needed assistance with their 2015 Memorial Day Celebration, they turned to their own VFW bugler, Hickman, to see if the Texas State Guard was available. Hickman has been playing the bugle since 1966 since his service with the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1968 where he worked in communications and as a diver.
The 2nd Regiment was honored to help with the ceremony. The soldiers presented the colors, served as an honor guard, assisted various military organizations that placed wreaths around the cemetery, and the fired three volley salute. The last part of the ceremony was when Sgt.Maj. Hickman played taps.
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The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of about 1.9 million members. The VFW advocates for U.S. veterans, by working to ensure that veterans and their loved ones are recognized for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our great nation.
Since 1868, Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) is the federal holiday that honors soldiers who have died in military service to the United States.