American Legion Post 36 of Rochester Commander Rob Beckman, who also serves with the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard, poses by the guard’s bus. The guard is conducting a fundraiser to either repair the bus or get a newer, used one. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — The Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard is hoping to fix up or replace its 20-year-old bus.

The organization is accepting donations and plans to have a fundraiser Saturday, July 20.

American Legion Post 36 of Rochester Commander Rob Beckman, also an honor guard member, said the guard has had the 2004 Chevy 4500 series shuttle bus for “close to probably nine or 10 years.”

“It was an airport shuttle bus and then it was a church bus, and we got it after (that),” he said.

The guard uses it for traveling to several local festivals and “close to 50 to 60 funerals a year” to perform ceremonies for veterans, said Beckman.

The bus has about 148,000 miles on it.

Plastic is cracked in places on the bus’ exterior, and metal is rusted, with a repairman noting to Beckman recently that one side of the back bumper “is just about ready to come off.”

He also noted water is coming into the bus when it rains. He is concerned about potential mold causing health issues for the guard members.

A third problem is the rear-view mirrors have frozen in place over time.

“It’s been a good bus, but just everything is going to pot with it, and if the frame’s rusted out on the back, I can only imagine what it’s doing underneath,” said Beckman.

He said he was quoted more than $5,000 to repair the vehicle.

“I hate (to spend so much on repairs) because I know I’m going to go above the value of the bus,” said Beckman.

Thus, the guard is considering replacing it with a newer, used bus, but the quotes Beckman has gotten have been $87,000 and more than $50,000, thus far.

He’s planning to seek out a Fulton County Community Foundation grant, but people are welcome to donate as well.

They may give by sending funds to American Legion Post 36, P.O. Box 703, Rochester, IN 46975, and noting monies are for the guard’s bus.

A fundraiser for the bus will be from 4-8 p.m. July 20, at the Fulton County Museum, 37 E. CR 375N, Rochester. There will be a live auction, food, a bake sale and 50/50 drawings.

To donate an item for the auction, people may take items to the Legion at 611 Main St. or 1205 Lakeshore Drive, Rochester.

They may also contact Beckman at (574) 721-1520 or Judi Leininger at (574) 835-8726 for more information.

Members of the honor guard are shown on the bus traveling down to Marion National Cemetery to perform a ceremony for a late veteran earlier this year. Shown from left are Honor Guard Commander Joe McElfresh, Willie Sauberlich, Brett Hizer, Judi Leininger, Hugh Murfin, Steve Fishburn, Pete Price, Chuck Clennon, Juan Sanchez, Rick Hoffman and Bob Maes. Photo provided by the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard.