Certain things transcend money, according to the man who organized a volunteer unit to honor military men and women and police officers killed in the line of duty, as well as statesmen who have served South Carolina well.

Maj. Steve Riggs, who used $100,000 of his own money to organize the 15-volunteer and 8-horse caisson unit, has a right to lament the potential demise of the unit, and so do many in Beaufort County. The caisson unit was used in Beaufort two years ago this week at the funerals of two sheriff's deputies who were killed in the line of duty. Saturday the unit was used at the funeral of Army Capt. Kimberly Hampton of Easley, South Carolina's first female military pilot killed in Iraq. In June, the caisson and team carried Strom Thurmond, retired U.S. senator and general, to his grave.

It costs $100,000 a year to maintain the horses and the unit, even though the 15 members are volunteers, and Gov. Mark Sanford has earmarked the unit's funds for elimination in his executive budget sent to the General Assembly last week. A spokesman for the governor says when the state starts the budget process $350 million in the hole, it's necessary to examine every expenditure.

The caisson is similar to trumpeters at military funerals. They aren't necessary, but they lend a certain solemnity to a funeral, especially for those who have died in service or after long years of service to their county. This small honor is the least that Americans and South Carolinians can do for those who have given so much.

While the governor wants all nonessential expenditures eliminated from the budget, he promises he will seek private donations to keep the unit active. According to the Associated Press, Riggs thinks the governor is insincere about the gesture.

Whether the governor is sincere or not, other ways may exist to save the unit and possibly get some money to pay the volunteers. Several ideas come to mind to raise $100,000:

Each of S.C.'s 46 counties could chip in $2,173.91;

100 towns could donate $1,000 each;

Citizens could be given the option to donate a designated amount of money on their state income tax form; and

Every veterans organization (American Legion, AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Navy League, retired NCO and officer associations, etc.) could donate money to fund the unit.

South Carolina has a huge economic interest in all the military bases in the state, all of which train men and women to serve in harms way. South Carolinians have been huge supporters of the military since before the American Revolution. Because military support probably won't diminish anytime soon, we also must be prepared to honor those who die in distinguished service.

Raising $100,000 or more from those who have served or those who support the troops should be relatively easy and painless. The generosity would honor the right people and allow the state to spend money on the truly necessary budget items.