Operation Honor Guard Executive Director Brandon Merano during at stop at CIMG’s Danville studios.
He’s been known for years for his work on WCIA Channel 3. But now, Brandon Merano has been hired by Operation Honor Guard founder Rich Darby to be executive director of the operation that puts top notch uniforms on American Honor Guard troops.
As Rich Darby has told us many times, it all began over a decade a go when he saw an Honor Guard troop at a Veteran’s funeral in not so good, obvious hand me down uniforms. Darby wanted that to change; and as we’re reminded every year on Giving Day in May, he has made it change big time.
Merano recalled that during his time at WSIL, he came across something called Operation National Guard. Then one day up here, talking with Rich Darby, he had an “ah-ha” moment.
AUDIO: I told him, “Hey, we used to do stuff in Southern Illinois with another charity called Operation Honor Guard.” And he goes, “Nope, that’s the same one.” And I said, “Well, we’ve been working together forever, then, you know?!”
Scenes from recent National Honor Guard Giving Days in Danville
Merano served in the Air Force from 2009-24, out of Scott’s Air Force Base down near St. Louis; including two stints of service in the Middle East; much of his work as an “in-flight refueler.” And at a funeral for one of his military buddies from his Afganistan Days, there was something Merano realized; that all Veterans should have full military detail and rights at their funerals.
AUDIO: Not a lot of people realize this; that if you’re a Veteran, and you pass away, you are only guaranteed one person, from active duty from your branch, and another person from an Honor Guard detail; to fold the flag and present it to your family. You are not guaranteed a full rifle detail. You are not guaranteed a bugler. You are not guaranteed a full ceremony. And that’s where the American Legion and VFW Honor Guards come in.
Merano says he will grow Operation Honor Guard through the media, social media, grants; and corporations, especially those with military connections. And he appreciates Rich Darby trusting him.
AUDIO: By putting his faith in me to grow this organization, I’m not going to let that fail. When he called and first told me about the position; he said he was writing the job description, and he told me; he goes “man, when I was writing this, I couldn’t think of anybody but you.”
Merano says there is no reason that Operation Honor Guard cannot be seen on the same plane as Veterans organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project, or Folds of Honor.
