“It’s an honor to be there when they are saying goodbye to their loved ones.”
If Betty Gonzales worked as passionately at her job as she does for The American Legion, she’d be the best employee, her bank supervisor quips.
All kidding aside, Gonzales is well known for her volunteer work and enthusiastic support of local veterans. She is active in the Department of Missouri’s Operation Comfort Warriors program and works with post-9/11 veterans who suffer from the most severe cases of PTSD and TBI.
“I’m not the kind of person who sits around and doesn’t do anything,” she says. “I need to be out and about and doing some good.”
Gonzales has braved all kinds of weather – blizzards to brutal summer heat – while serving as a rifleman with the St. Louis Service Women’s Post 404 honor guard. Members perform the entire ceremony, from firing rifle volleys to folding the flag and handing empty shell casings to the veteran’s family. A member of the Auxiliary plays Taps.
“We see it as an honor to be there, and we let the family know that what she did is so respected by us, especially if she was a World War II veteran,” says Gonzales, who often takes vacation days from work to participate in the ceremonies. “We want that family to know that we honor and treasure that person they lost.”
Just as Gonzales honors fellow veterans today, she knows one day her comrades will do the same for her.
“The military funeral means a lot to me,” she explains. “Hopefully, by the time my time comes, there is going to be some OEF/OIF person there to do mine.”
Branch of Service Marine Corps (1968-1970)
MOS Basic accounting and disbursement
Rank Corporal
American Legion Post St. Louis Service Women’s Post 404
Years in the Legion 16
Legion Offices
- Honor guard rifleman (2002-present)
- Department zone vice commander (2013)
- District commander (2010)
- Legislative and Americanism committees (2009-present)
- Post commander (2007-2009)
- Magazine