When a Louisiana veteran dies, these volunteers give a final salute: ‘It’s our absolute honor.’

DELCAMBRE — The church doors opened to reveal a line of men in uniform, shirts crisp, faces stoic. As the casket approached, the commander gave the word, and they clasped their rifles in unison, or as close as they get to unison these days.

They stood ready to fire the guns, to sound the bugle, to give the final salute.

When a veteran dies within an hour’s drive of Lafayette, this volunteer crew of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard reports to duty, alerting its roster, loading into a little bus and trekking to the cemetery…

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