In retirement, Honor Guard chaplain a steadfast attendee of local veterans' funerals
A Roman Catholic deacon finished prayers at a recent burial service at a Chenango Valley Cemetery in Hillcrest and stepped away from the casket.
A man in a Naval uniform then came forward. This chaplain was ready to offer prayer too. He was backed up by an honor guard of more than a dozen others wearing uniforms of the armed services.
In a calm voice, he prepared those attending for the sound of a gunfire salute. The crack of rifles was followed by “Taps” being played. An American flag, folded in quiet precision, was given to the family of the deceased. It’s a short service filled with emotion.
Chaplain Walter Loveless admits that he’s often touched by the ceremony.
“Oh, that happens a lot. I do get a few tears and especially when I'm saying the prayer and a family member starts crying . That sort of…touches me.” he said.
“I remember a couple of years ago we were at Sylvan Lake cemetery and we were doing the service. And I got a tear in my eye and the wife of the deceased came over and wiped it away.” Loveless added.
At Calvary Cemetery on a recent hot and humid day, Loveless stood at attention for photos in dress uniform. Then he loosened his collar to speak to a reporter. When asked if he was OK, Loveless said yes. There was a breeze while standing under the shade of a tree.
Loveless, who was a Chief Petty Officer, wears the formal uniform at a service if the deceased also was in the Navy. He wears the less formal uniform if the person being honored was from one of the other services.
“I’m retired Navy, so I enjoy wearing the uniform,” he said.
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Loveless has been chaplain for the Honor Guard for more than 11 years. His wife noticed a report on television about the need. She suggested it was something he could do in retirement. But there’s more that inspired him. He volunteered and learned people were needed to build up the honor guard.
"I got a hold of a few people that I knew and I said, 'Hey, we're doing this. I know you have your uniform or we can get you a uniform and you want to join?'" Loveless asked.
It’s important to him to be there for deceased veterans. Sometimes the honor guard, a funeral director, and clergy are the only ones present at a burial.
“You feel saddened that no one is there. And then you look at the person's age. You read the obituary, it says everybody’s deceased.” Loveless said.
He said someone has to be there to honor and thank them for their service to the country, and for their “celebration of life.”
“You have to have a celebration of life. Not just dead, put them in the ground and forget about them,” Loveless added.
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The military veterans who make up the honor guard range in age from late 50s to 90s. Loveless said the number can include a dozen or more at each ceremony.
Most of the services include the reading of a universal Christian prayer. Loveless said it is important to share with the family of the deceased. He notes the connection to his own Catholic faith too.
“You pass away, as we say in the prayer. You pass away in this life and you are going to another life with Jesus in heaven. This is a transitional period,” Loveless said.
He shared the prayer used at the services, which includes the following: “As comrade after comrade departs, we march on with the ranks growing ever thinner. Help us to be faithful unto Thee, and to each other.”
More about Walter J. Loveless
Church: Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic, Vestal
Position: Chaplain and President - Broome County Veterans Memorial Association
Job: Retired system analyst at Lockheed Martin, Air Traffic Management Division
Hometown: Elmira Heights, NY
Residence: Vestal, NY
Military Service: Chief Electronics Technician, US Navy Active Duty 10 years and US Navy Reserves 16 1/2 years
Education: Bachelor of Science in Education: Electronics and Electricity-Southern Illinois University; Master of Science: Telecommunications and Network Management-Syracuse University
Age: 75
Family: Married, twin sons, 4 grandchildren
Hobbies: Woodworking
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: When veterans die alone, Honor Guard chaplain is there to honor them
