Honor Guard
The Erlanger Fire/EMS Honor Guard was formed shortly after several
of our founding members attended the National Fallen Firefighter’s
ceremony in Washington, D.C. in 2002. The event occurs annually
in Emmitsburg, MD, to honor all of those firefighters who have
died in the line of duty the previous year. This was the only year
it was held in Washington D.C. to accommodate all of those who
would be attending to pay last respects to not only the 100 firefighters
who died across the nation, as well as the 343 firefighters who
died in the September 11th, 2001 tragedy. This was a very sobering
experience that installed in our members not only the need to create
our own Honor Guard, but to create a squad of uncompromising dedication
and professionalism.
This commitment has earned our team much respect and requests to
perform at many ceremonies, even though we have been in existence
for a relatively short time. To carry the American flag at the
funeral of someone who has died in its service is a great honor
we have been asked to perform many times. In addition to having
carried the flag at several fallen firefighter’s funerals, we have
carried the flag and performed ceremonial duties at the KY state
fallen firefighter’s memorial ceremony, KY Firefighter’s Association
memorial service, parades, opening ceremonies for conventions,
meetings, funerals for emergency services personnel who did not
die in the line of duty, and several 9-11-01 details. Every detail
we have completed has increased our pride, as those we have performed
for have expressed their pleasure and satisfaction with our efforts.
We have never fallen short of the high standards we had set for
ourselves in the beginning. |
