Oskaloosa Legion Receives Updated Ceremonial Rifles

Members of the Oskaloosa American Legion display new rifles they received recently.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The American Legion in Oskaloosa has been working to replace their current stock of ceremonial rifles since 1999. Their current rifles were issued in 1965, said legion member Ted Smith.

After an initial bout of red-tape, Smith started the process again last March to procure the rifles. “You have to go through a lot of hoops to get them”, said Smith. “Finally, they sent us replacements”.

The legion received M1 Garand rifles, are WWII and Korea era issue, that are reconditioned and modified to fire blanks. The rifles sent to the legion in 1965 are also M1 Garand rifles. Those will be returned, and as with all such rifles, they are still the property of the U.S. Government.

The need for the new rifles became apparent when during a 21-gun salute, one of the rifles malfunctioned, launching the suppressor that enables the rifles to fire blanks over a nearby church.

The Oskaloosa Legion and VFW work together to provide an honor guard for veterans and the rifles are used approximately 60 times a year for funerals.

The honor guard has been using the VFW rifles since that previously discussed incident, but the newest rifles will allow for more flexibility to the honor guard.

The paperwork to acquire the rifles requires extensive accuracy and the facility is inspected to make sure the rifles are secured when not in use.

Legion members said that, ultimately, safety concerns lead to the push for the rifles, which were misfiring on occasion, and the new rifles will ultimately help the organization better serve their fellow veterans.