House Bill Would Create Military Funeral Honor Guard Named For Woody Williams

The House Finance Committee passed a bill Wednesday to create a military funeral honor guard formed in remembrance of Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams.

House Bill 3254 would create a special detail of the West Virginia National Guard to be present and perform ceremonies at the funerals of eligible veterans. The program would be created and run by the state’s adjutant general.

These ceremonies would include the folding and presenting of the American flag to the dead’s next of kin and the playing of Taps, either by a bugler or electronically if one isn’t available.

Eligible veterans include those from West Virginia who had either died in combat or had been honorably discharged.

Del. John Hardy, R-Berkeley, recommended the bill pass to the House floor.

“With [veterans organizations] VFW and American Legion, as some of those members start to age out and some of our younger veterans are maybe not as involved in those organizations as much as they used to be, this will go a long way,” Hardy said.

The bill passed the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security earlier this month. It is expected to be read a first time on the House floor Friday.