Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Color Guard from left: James Darnell, George Selby, Bob Sims, Ed Riley, Charles Bragg, Mike Gross, (the Memorial) then Mike Black, Mac Bond, Mike Keown, Jon Garvin, Marty Reynolds, Richard Murphy and Nathan Selby.

•April 13, 2016•

By Mike Brothers

They perform their duty, then return to daily routines: the Sullivan American Legion Post 68 Color Guard has always been there.

Since January 1, the Color Guard has put on their uniforms, grabbed their rifles and gathered their flags to perform military rites for 11 of their brothers and sisters in arms who have passed away so far this year.

What is becoming a challenge for the American Legion Color Guard now, with 23 active members, is getting others to join the group,

Nathan Selby is a 27-year-old father of a three-year old daughter, who works for ADM in Decatur and is a volunteer with the Sullivan Fire Dept.

Selby is an Army veteran of Afghanistan who has found the time to be a Color Guard. “I remember how those who came back from Vietnam were mistreated,” Selby said, noting when he returned from his Army tour, he wanted to get involved.

“What military rites show is respect for those who came before us,” he concluded.

Marty Reynolds is 75 and retired from the Air Force along with his wife who is an active American Legion member. He is responsible for flag presentation to the survivors, which signals the 21 gun salute.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.