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VFW member honored for his service at military funerals

By Piper Castillo, Times Staff Writer
In print: Sunday, November 9, 2008

VFW post officers present a plaque to Scott Barber, right, and his boss, Robert Deans, of Tampa thanking them for his participation.
	[PIPER CASTILLO | Times]

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Scott Barber, an officer of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 10094 in Largo, served in the U.S. Air Force as a security specialist from 1992 to 1996. His last four years of duty were in Italy and Bosnia. Eighteen months ago, Barber attended his first military funeral as a member of the post's honor guard, which has a minimum of six members at a funeral service. Since then, he has provided military honors at more than two dozen funerals of area veterans. • With Veterans Day on Tuesday, we thought it was a good time to catch up with Barber, 34, the youngest honor guard at VFW Post 10094.

1Could you describe how you felt the first time you performed at a funeral? I was an emotional wreck. The last military funeral I had attended was for my stepfather, when I was 20. I was on active duty in Bosnia, and his death was completely unexpected. All this came back to mind.

2How did the decision to become an honor guard for the VFW come about? It was a personal decision I made after I became an officer of the post. It was an internal tribute I wanted to make to vets for their service.

3Do you get the impression from people at funerals that military honor guards are becoming more familiar since the war has continued? What I see is people coming up to us, thanking us and saying how much they appreciate us being there. They say it feels good being assured their families are taken care of.

4Are you religious or has the experience of being an honor guard turned you more toward spirituality? I do believe in God, and I wouldn't say this has made me more spiritual. But what it has done for me is helped put a certain closure and acceptance on the inevitable.

5Were you fearful of funerals before this? What I felt had to do with my stepfather. He was only 52 when he died. Now this helps me by giving me an opportunity to help others with the grieving process.