We have logged over 16,000 miles traveling to and from our missions of honor. All transportation has been donated by our members using their personal vehicles and absorbing the lions share of fuel costs. This has at times proven to be a financial hardship, especially for some of our contributing members who are retired/disabled and on fixed incomes. Nevertheless, no one has ever complained, and even when reimbursement has been offered them from the guards meager funds, it is more often than not quickly and forcefully declined. Such is the dedication of our people.
Sadly however, there seems to be an ever decreasing number of organizations such as ours available to bestow final military rites upon our honored veterans. Because of this, we are traveling longer and longer distances to provide our services. We have driven over 300 miles round trip to provide services for a WWII veteran and his family, and had another service in the same location not many months later. The reason for this? We were told by the funeral director that we are the only working guard unit available even close to their area that provides full military funeral rites replete with rifle salute and live Taps. We were told that if we were unable to come, this veteran would more than likely be buried without full final military honors. The answer we gave? "We will be there."
Due to the rising transportation costs associated with our ever-increasing area of service and in consideration of the discomfort associated with the elderly members of our guard traveling long distances in cramped personal vehicles, we find ourselves in need of some kind of group transportation vehicle that will enable us to travel economically to far-away locations while providing a measure of comfort to our senior members.
A local car dealership here in Tulsa worked with us on acquiring a 12-passenger van. The owner of the dealership, a veteran himself, has, in the true spirit of veterans helping veterans, offered to pay the first $100 per month on a lease agreement for this vehicle out of his own pocket (absolutely incredible). The rest, including insurance and fuel expenses, will have to come from guard funds (consisting of honorariums from the families of veterans we serve, garage sales, bake sales, private donations, etc.) and out of the pockets of the membership. Even with the gracious offer from our dealership owner friend, we doubt this will be enough.
We, the veterans, and the families of the veterans we serve are truly in need of your help. The American Veterans Honor Guard has never before turned away a request for service unless our schedule absolutely would not permit. However, in the future we may find ourselves facing that situation, especially regarding services that are 100 miles or more distant.
Please take another close look at the rest of our website, and ask yourself how much what we do is worth to the people we serve. Then ask yourself "How much is it worth to me?" We have been told time and time again, verbally and in thank you notes from veterans families, that the "full" military honors we provide for their departed loved ones are "priceless".
If after doing these things you feel led to help us and all the veterans we serve, please consider contacting our commander by phone at the number below, or just send your donation to the address provided. If you feel that ours is a worthy cause but are not in a financial position to help (even small donations of $5 or $10 are gratefully and thankfully accepted), try to think of someone you know who might like to help and tell them about our need.
Remember, we are a
tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation, and all donations are
fully tax deductible.
In grateful acknowledgment of your donation, you will receive in
return:
A receipt for your tax records.
A personalized, notarized Presidential certificate suitable for
framing
signed by the commander and vice-commander
thanking you for your help.
Also, be assured that every dime of every dollar you give will be put towards honoring our heroic veterans with the utmost in dignity and respect.
Thank you very much for your consideration. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America!
To contact us regarding donations, call:
Commander Jack Hoskinson
or
Adjutant Lois Hoskinson at
Home: (918) 627-2669
Cell: (918) 230-4057
Email:
commander@veteranshonorguard.us
To donate directly, please
send your donation to:
The American Veterans Honor Guard, Inc.
8124 East 24th St.
Tulsa, Ok 74129-2802
ATTN: Commander Jack Hoskinson