U.S. Disaster Relief Command

What kind of interest is there in Colorado for starting a Brigade or unit for this?

Volunteers Needed to Start or Join USDRC Units in all areas!!!

Welcome to the U.S. Disaster Relief Command. If you have been searching for a way to serve, protect and defend your local community and our great nation, the USDRC may be what you are looking for. FEMA, Red Cross, Fire Departments, Law Enforcement Agencies, Rescue Squads, our Military Forces and many other Emergency Response Agencies are forever short of manpower during a crisis or disaster. Our Honor Guard Serves our fallen Veterans and their families. The USDRC helps offset these shortages by establishing first responder units across the United States with highly trained volunteers who are willing and able to assist these types of agencies under their direct supervision. The USDRC Command wholeheartedly encourages you to become an active volunteer and make a difference in the lives of those afflicted by a disaster. You will certainly never regret your decision to get involved! Retired Military and Persons of any age and background are welcome.

I recieved an invitation from the contact person, but I am too busy to run it myself (although I'd be happy to help out whomever is in charge)... Let me know if you're interested!

A Memo from the Under Secty of Defense

This memo is directed to:
Asst. Secty of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Defense {RA}.dated Dec-6 2004
This memorandum establishes the daily stipend for participation in a military funeral honors detail by volunteers in Fiscal Year 2005.

Section 1491[d] of Title 10, United States Code, allows a daily stipend amount to be prescribed annually for certain individuals who volunteer to assist the active duty military in the delivery of funeral honors. The stipend will be at a single rate that is designed to defray the costs of transportation and other expenses incurred by volunteers who participate in a funeral honors detail. I establish the daily stipend amount under Section 1491[d][2] of Title 10, United States Code, for Fiscal Year 2005 at $50.00.

Secretaries of the Military Departments are asked to authorize stipend payments for retirees under Section 1491[d] of Title 10, United States Code in lieu of authorizing an allowance under Section 435[a]of Title 37,United States Code. Compensating retirees under Section 1491[d] and not under Section 435[a] will ensure a uniform payment to ALL volunteers who assist in the delivery of military funeral honors. Stipend payments under Section 1491[d] will not be reported as taxable income. Stipend payments for retirees should be paid from O&M funds.

This stipend amount is effective immediately.
memo signed by Charles S. Abell Principal Deputy


(Thanks to bugler Tom Ekrich for pointing out this post on the main website. I'll post more details as I am made aware of them - Rich)

Ft. Logan

In regards to my previous question to Craig, it turns out that the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs has already considered this issue. Find Burial Records here.

Christmas Eve

A request just came through for a Christmas Eve service. I've spoken with the contact person and have some details. This will be a private memorial ceremony (not a funeral) for a couple coming in from San Diego. Her folks were both WWII Army veterans - major Leo Clark served stateside, and his wife Rose (1st Lt) served in the South Pacific.

The memorial service will be at 11:00am on the 24th, at Ft. Logan. If you are available to play Taps, please let me know. We'll need to track down the gravesite the hard way - Craig, you have some experience with that, don't you? (I hope!) Otherwise the bugler will have to meet the family at the main gates and follow them down.

Remember, don't contact the family directly! Call me if you can do it (three-oh-three, six-eight-zero, two-six-six-eight). Thank you, buglers!

Grand Junction?

A request just came through for a service on Monday. It's in Grand Junction, and we don't have a lot of players there, so if you're available please let me know. I've already made contact with the requestor, so please do not contact him again.

Craig, thanks for pointing the requestor in the right direction!

UPDATE: Bugler Merlin Zimmet has agreed to play - thank you, sir!