West Holmes honors memory of longtime member of American Legion color guard
HARDY TWP. − For more than 40 years, Larry Shaffer raised the flag on Friday nights at the west end of Knights Stadium at West Holmes High School as a member of the American Legion Post 192 color guard.
On Friday, Sept. 2, the community honored the memory of Shaffer, who died early this year, with a moment of silence prior to the raising of the flag for the national anthem at the football game.
Legion Commander Craig Lawhead presented Karen Shaffer with the final flag her husband raised from last season.
"We wanted to do something to honor his memory," Lawhead said. "It means a lot to me to be the next in line as commander."
No matter the weather, year after year and decade after decade, Larry Shaffer was a stalwart at football games, proudly hoisting the flag before his beloved Knights played.
Shaffer died in January after a brief battle with cancer.
The 1964 graduate of Millersburg High School was a four-year letter winner in football, baseball, basketball and track before going on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1967 to '69, during the Vietnam War.
As Commander in the local American Legion, he organized the Memorial Day ceremonies for 27 years and many annual Halloween parades in addition to his color guard duties.
Karen Shaffer appreciated the ceremony commemorating her late husband of 36 years. Their son, Trent Shaffer, has returned to West Holmes this season as a member of the football coaching staff after a stint as head coach at Rittman.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: West Holmes Knights salute longtime color guard Larry Shaffer
