New York Guard performs more than 10K funerals in 2012 - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

New York Guard performs more than 10K funerals in 2012

LATHAM, N.Y. (AP) - The New York Army National Guard's Honor Guard is expected to perform about 10,200 military funerals by the end of the year - 500 fewer than in 2011.
    
Honor Guard Coordinator Don Roy says  the number of World War II veterans whose families were taking advantage of the Honor Guard services peaked a couple of years ago, so the overall number of funerals for that era's veterans is declining.
    
Roy said the Honor Guard conducted the funerals of the 32 New York Army National Guard Soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
    
There were no military funerals for New York National Guard Soldiers killed in combat in 2011 and in 2012.
    
Honor Guard members play taps, fold a flag and present it to the next of kin for veterans.