ABOVE: Until 7 PM Wed May 6th, Danville’s OPERATION HONOR GUARD “Day of Giving” location was once again Hall of Fame Plaques and Signs at 3550 North Vermilion.
So many have heard the story, and it bears repeating every year. Thirteen years ago Sunset Funeral Home’s Rich Darby was at the funeral of a United States Veteran, and when he stopped, as he always says, thinking about himself; he noticed something was very wrong. And during Wednesday’s traditional “Day of Giving,” Rich’s son Ross Darby took the story from there.
AUDIO: He was feeling sorry for himself because he was hot and sweaty in his suit; and looked over at the Honor Guard members to see how they were holding up; and realized that they were mismatched, and different colored pants and everything. And so yep, he started Operation Honor Guard, hit the ground running, and started giving back.
Ross recalls that the early days of that effort, to have Honor Guards looking their best to pay final respects to our Veterans, was done in just any way possible.
AUDIO: Starting on the street corner, starting at the stop signs; collecting all the time. At that point, it was just change, or any dollar bills that people could give. And 13 years later, I mean, on a day like today; we’re going to see more $20 bills than anything. So, it’s pretty inspiring to see how far it’s come.
(Middle Picture) D102’s Tommy B interviews Operation Honor Guard’s Ross Darby.
And today, Darby says on this traditional “Day of Giving” they hope for around a combined 100 to 120 thousand dollars to be collected; at nine different locations within the region, including the traditional Hall of Fame Plaques and Signs in Danville. And of course, Ross points out, other funeral homes around the country have certainly noticed what started in Danville and the surrounding area.
AUDIO: I know that we’ve done them in Tennessee; we’ve done them in Minnesota. And so, all it is is just kind of them seeing and understanding the need. And then those funeral homes get wind of it; whether it’s through our industry alone, or whether they see it online. And so, then those funeral homes try to figure out, “How can I help my local Veterans, and my local posts?”
And remember, donations can be made year ’round by going to operationhonorguard.us.
