Six members of VFW Post 7764 in Reidsville had the honor of providing the rifle team for a 21-gun salute volley for Vietnam War Veteran Tommy Everage, 80, of Claxton, Georgia. Tommy served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded three Purple Hearts and the Air Medal. He served 12 years in the United States Army and then served another eight years in the Navy.
Tommy passed away on August 12, 2026. His family asked for full military honors, but regulations got in the way for the traditional 21-gun salute. The U.S. Army would not provide military honors since his last eight years were served in the Navy. The Navy provided a flag folding team but would not provide a rifle team since the funeral was more than 50 miles away. It was said that the distance was about 51 miles.
Brad Anderson, owner-operator of Low Country Cremation and Burial in Reidsville and the Glennville Funeral Home, contacted both branches of service to see if a waiver could be worked out and had no success. He then contacted U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter and Rick Allen for help, but both efforts failed.
Slightly before noon on Monday, Brad called VFW 7764 Commander Ronnie McCall and asked if the VFW could provide the service. “This man won three purple hearts and the Air Medal in Vietnam,” Brad said. “His family wants a 21-gun salute, and he deserves it.”
McCall stated that VFW 7764 did not have a rifle team, and had no rifles suitable for the service.
“I have contacted Commander Ric Robin of the Montgomery County VFW Post 10229 and his wife Beverly, who is the Treasurer of the Auxiliary, and they have three M-1 Garands,” Brad said. “I’ll go get the guns if your post can handle the ceremony.”
“Go get them,” McCall said. “We’ll do the best we can.”
“I’ll go get the guns if your post can handle the ceremony.”Brad Anderson, owner-operator of Low Country Cremation and Burial in Reidsville
“Go get them. We’ll do the best we can.”Ronnie McCall, VFW 7764 Commander
Around 5 p.m., Brad delivered the guns to Ronnie McCall’s Dawghouse, and Trace Simmons, Bobby Kennedy, Ronnie Thomas, Joe Boyett, and Wayne Campbell showed up at 8:00 a.m. the following day and started rehearsing the gun salute procedures. They worked through various fumbles and miscues until about 9:45 a.m. when they went back home to get a shower and get dressed for the event.
The funeral service began around 1 p.m. when the Navy sailors provided a very good rendition of taps and folded the American Flag for the family. Then the newly formed VFW 7764 rifle team performed the salute almost flawlessly and much better than they had during their hasty practices. The expended brass casings were given to family members, and the very solemn and fitting service ended.
Family members thanked Brad Anderson for his relentless efforts to provide the military funeral services that Vietnam War Veteran Tommy Everage deserved, and they applauded VFW 7764 members for providing the gun salute volley with such short notice.
VFW 7764 wishes to thank Brad for allowing them to participate, and thank Ric and Beverly Robin of Post 10229 in Montgomery County for providing the M-1 rifles.
The team will pursue the acquisition of their own M-1 Garand rifles specifically for a gun salute team for Post 7764. “It worked out well,” Commander Ronnie McCall said. “But we were worried about making a dumb mistake due to the short notice and lack of practice. We want to get the guns, establish two full teams, and let them practice. We don’t want to get caught flatfooted again.”
