HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED
About Us
Jim Gibson serves as the Commander of the Council. Jim is a United States Navy Veteran of the Vietnam war. He has been a member of the Veterans Council since 2002 and is a life member of VFW Post 2901 in Cambridge, Ohio. He retired from GTE/Verizon in 2002. In addition to the time he spends in service to the Veterans of the County he is a member of Christ United Methodist Church, is a volunteer with the instrumental music department at Cambridge High School and is the Past President and Past Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Cambridge.
The Guernsey County Veterans Council was formed in the late 1980s from all of the Veterans organizations in Guernsey County. Prior to that time the individual Posts provided all of the necessary manpower to perform the various honors, but the available manpower dwindled and it became impossible for the individual Posts to do the job properly. Russell Haynes of VFW Post 2901 organized the group and was its first Commander. By the year 2000 the group had declined in membership but was still able to perform the needed tasks. In 2005 an effort was made to recruit new members and the organization grew to approximately 20.In 2006 the Council was certified by the Navy to be an Authorized provider of Military Funeral Honors under the DOD AP3 program. In 2007 the Army provided a training session and certified the group. The Council today has nearly 30 members and performs on average 90-100 Military funerals per year in and around Guernsey County. In addition to the funerals the Council provides Color Guards and Firing Parties for community programs and each year sponsors and hosts an Armed Forces Day program. Membership in the Council is open to any person who is a member of a Nationally Chartered Veterans organization in Guernsey.County, Ohio.
