Sunlight glinted off the tear streaming down Ken Johnson's face while he presented rifle shell casings to a weeping widow.

So did the Duluth Honor Guard and the Patriot Guard. Charlie Olson is an 89-year-old Air Force vet from Aurora. “I’ve never been to D.C.,” he told us.

MARION — For decades, the Marion VFW Honor Guard has provided military rites at funerals and community events, offering rifle salutes, folding flags and playing Taps to honor local veterans.