David Moore

BAZETTA - Some spend their retirements traveling or starting a second career.

David Moore goes to funerals.

Moore, a member of American Legion Post 540 in Cortland and a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, is also a member of the Trumbull County Honor Guard, a group of veterans who perform military rites at funerals for veterans.

Moore said the group performed 52 funerals this year through March 1, although he was not at every one of those. But he is so busy that even his grandchildren know he is sometimes crunched for time.

''When they're sick in school, they say, 'Pappy will pick us up if he doesn't have a funeral,''' Moore said with a laugh.

Moore has been a member of the honor guard since October 2004, when he retired from FirstEnergy. He said he would not be able to be part of the guard if he was still working.

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Moore

''That's because of the commitment,'' Moore said.

Moore said the longest he's probably traveled as a member of the honor guard is a 70-mile round trip to Coitsville. He said there are times when he does two or even three funerals a day.

Usually he knows two or three days in advance if he is needed, Moore said.

''It's almost predictable,'' Moore said.

Veterans from World War II, and more and more veterans from the Korean War and the Vietnam War are passing on, Moore said.

Peter Rossi of the Peter Rossi and Son Memorial Chapel, lauded the honor guard and the work they do for veterans. Their greatest function is the comfort they provide to the grieving families of veterans, he said.

''That group is first rate,'' Rossi said.

The guard also performs at ceremonies on holidays such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day.

Moore said he thinks the work the guard does at funerals is important and he wishes there were more organizations around who did similar work. He said he hopes there is someone around to perform the same service for him when he passes on.

Moore said he likes the fact that he can help provide comfort to the family of a veteran, but it is the veterans themselves who are deserving of honor, he said.

''I feel that the vets that we do services for and the ones that never came home are the real stars of the show,'' Moore said. ''It's hard to assign words as to why we do it.''

jgorman@tribtoday.com

''I feel that the vets that we do services for and the ones that never came home are the real stars of the show. It's hard to assign words as to why we do it.''

- Community Star David Moore