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A non-profit that helps provide wreaths for the headstones at the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery is now leading the effort to provide all veterans with full military honors at their services.

MITS-GIVES, Inc. is a new charity with its mission to support veterans, their families and Hampton Roads community founded by MI Technical Solutions Inc. The non-profit recently announced that its project will create an honor guard corps and build a support facility at the Horton Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, according to a news release.

The Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, operated by

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Veterans Services, operates the cemetery and provides burial services for about 1,500 veterans each year.

The current numbers show the need for the project. MITS-GIVES pointed out that only about 10% of the veterans interred at the cemetery receive “full” military funeral honors, which includes a three-round ceremonial rifle volley — commonly referred to as a 21-gun salute.

MI Technical Solutions Inc. has long been a supporter of charities and projects that support veterans, MIT Director of Strategic Communications Keri Douglas said in a Tuesday interview.

“We made the MITS tradition of philanthropy official this year by launching MITS-GIVES Inc.,” Douglas said.

Every year the MITS Team supports with donations and volunteers to lay wreaths at the Horton Jr. Memorial Cemetery, she said.

“Creating the Honor Guard is one more way to honor, recognize, and serve the veteran community,” Douglas said. “By Memorial Day 2023, the honor guard will be ready for service at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery and be able to provide full military honors for families who request them.”

To ensure that more veterans receive funeral honors, MITS-GIVES is partnering with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to establish the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Honor Guard Corps. The goal of the new honor guard is to provide honors to all who request them.

Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services Daniel Gade said they believe that all veterans deserve a fitting final tribute as they are laid to rest in the veterans cemetery.

“With the creation of the Honor Guard at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, we can now fulfill that sacred obligation,” Gade said. “This is just another demonstration of the commitment and generosity of the

Hampton Roads community. Our community partners are critical to our mission to honor and serve our veterans.”

The Honor Guard will be ready for service on Memorial Day in May 2023.

In addition, MITS-GIVES is partnering with DVS to construct an honor guard building at the Suffolk cemetery. According to the organization’s release, sponsors to date include MI Technical Solutions, Pinnacle Group Engineering, Bowman Foster Electrical, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Twenty-three Alumni (NMCB 23 Alumni), Scott Richie, Floor Coverings International, Bear Concrete, Axis Global and Tuff Shed.

Douglas stressed the need for community support for the effort.

“To make this happen, we do need the support of the community to volunteer to serve in the honor guard and/or donate,” she said. “Please donate online and/or apply online or mail in an application to serve in the honor guard at www.MITS-GIVES.org.

If any veteran would like to join the honor guard can apply online at bit.ly/3FzQfUx.

Anyone donating to the effort can also do so online at https://bit.ly/3NmA4fm. MI Technical Solutions has committed to providing an additional 10% match for each online donation, according to the release. Anyone wanting to learn more about the project and the new non-profit group can visit www.MITS-GIVES.org.

The Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk is one of three state veterans cemeteries operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. This cemetery serves veterans and their families in the Hampton Roads area. Since 2004, more than 16,702 veterans have been honored and recognized for their dedication and service to the nation. To learn more about DVS, visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.