By Sara QuamTed Anderson would love to stay a part of the Honor Guard. Unfortunately, at 86, he can’t properly hold a rifle for the 21-gun salute, and walking on uneven cemetery grass has become more difficult.Anderson is typical of the local Honor Guard — dedicated and patriotic, but aging. The average age of Luverne’s Honor Guard members is 85.In an effort to recruit new members, the Guard is having an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the Luverne Legion Hall.Honor Guard members from the Legion and VFW lead parades and other public events. The bigger part of their service is to be a part of the final rites of military members — properly and ceremoniously folding the flag to give to survivors, firing a 21-gun salute and playing taps. (The Guard usually asks a high school band student to play taps.)The VFW and Legion Honor Guard sent out a letter to recruit more members to the Honor Guard. It said in part, "As veterans, we served our country in the past and should continue to do our part to foster and perpetuate Americanism; and to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. You’ll be pleased about how great you feel serving your fellow veterans who so honorably served our country."Choosing to serve onAnderson has been a member of the Honor Guard since 1945. "I started as soon as I got out of the Army," Anderson said.He spent five years in the Army as a combat engineer overseas and in the infantry. Anderson joined the Honor Guard because he was asked — and because he thought it was the right thing to do.The way Anderson took on the duty is how he and other aging Guard members wish younger vets would.Warren Herreid said, "It was a responsibility to continue our patriotism and to help bury our fellow veterans."Anderson said, "It’s an honor for anyone to fire over a comrade’s grave."Anderson estimates he’s been a part of 1,200 funerals. The older vets don’t necessarily blame the younger ones for not joining the Honor Guard.Another Guard member, Louie Loger, said, "It’s hard for people when they work. … Another thing is, I might not want to join an organization that was full of 25-year-olds, and they might not want to join one that’s full of old men."Some veterans who still work, such as Glen Gust and Don Spease, are members of the Honor Guard.Herreid said, "It’s getting to the point where we have some people who can’t do it. We older guys don’t seem to want to quit, but we’ve got to turn it over to the younger people."Anderson said with a laugh, "Just put me in a wheelchair and I’ll go along."One of the younger members who is active in the recruiting effort is Jay Mann, who’s been in the Honor Guard for two years. "I think the younger vets see the other ones taking care of it and figure they don’t have to," Mann said. "People are busy and some still have jobs, but if they do some prioritizing and rescheduling, they could become a part of the Honor Guard."