ASHE COUNTY HONOR GUARD
FOR OUR FALLEN
The Ashe County Honor Guard will be selling tickets for the 2009 Firefighter Commemorative Rifle soon so rember that your support helps us to be there FOR Our Fallen
September
September has bee a very a hard month for the Honor Guard we had to send three of our brouthers off. Firefighter JB Eller with the Warrensville Vol. Fire & Rescue (Active), he had been on a fire call and three days latter he passed away at Wake Forst Medical Center, Bill Severt of Glendale Springs Vol. Fire Department (Retired) Passed away after a long illness, Vaugh Welch Lansing Vol Fire & Rescue (Retired Charter Member) Passed away after a long illness. Also we went to the vewing and funeral of Johnson County TN. Rescue Squad Member Joseph R. Barlow who passed away after a wreck this was a LODD. Our prayers are with these families.
Events & Activities
The Ashe County Honor Guard was ask by the Millers Creek Fire Department to help with the viewing and funeral for fallen firefighter William Gray Parsons. Mr Parsons passed away after complaining with chest pain while driving a truck to the scene of a fire. Please remember firefighter Parsons family.
Jefferson Post
Local group practices to honor heroes
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Members from the Ashe Co. Rescue Squad & Fire Departments in both Ashe and Alleghany counties demonstrate the procedures involved in the unfortunate event of a local fallen hero. |
By Jesse Campbell, Staff Reporter
Although the procession was only a demonstration of how the Honor Guard would pay tribute to their fallen brethren, the Honor Guard conducted the dry run with both a professional and respectful demeanor.
The Ashe County Honor Guard was formed in 2007 and consists of fire and rescue personnel from departments in both Ashe and Alleghany counties. Although the Honor Guard will be conducting countless processions in the High County, it will not be limited to the area alone and hope to participate in funerals and processions state wide as they have already participated in the ceremonies that honored two fallen firefighters from Salisbury this past March.
Members of the Honor Guard displayed a step-by-step process of how they would conduct a funeral and exhibited military like precision in every movement from “switching of the guard” to the folding of the flag and escorting the vacant coffin to the exit to conclude the demonstration. The somber demeanor of the Honor Guard seemed contagious as nearly every member of the audience seemed affected by the nature of the demonstration as a feeling of dejection hung over the event.
The red represents bravery, followed by the white which stands for the stainless purity and the love for the community for which the fallen victims served, and the field of blue commemorates the sacrifice that every individual of the Honor Guard are willing to make, Winters said.
Winters went on to stress the respect and gratitude the Honor Guard expresses to the family members of fallen members.
“If there is ever a time that the body of a fallen member is left overnight at a gym or funeral home, we will have an Honor Guard member on duty night and day until the ceremony is over,” Winters said. “It’s just a small token of our appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice these individuals have made as well as the family members.”
With this, Winters commented on how it was a privilege for the Honor Guard to pay homage to their fallen comrades.
Toward the closing moments of the ceremony, the “final call” of the firefighter is given by the ringing of a bell that symbolizes the departure of the fallen comrade from this world. During an actual funeral ceremony, the “final call” will be rung out over the CB radio across the entire county.
It is important to note that not every ceremony that the Honor Guard participates in will be the same as the exact details of each event will be determined by the family of fallen victims and some families will opt not to use the Honor Guard altogether.
The demonstration was open to the public as they were encouraged to offer feedback and questions to the Honor Guard because these members would be representing their respective communities. The dry run of the demonstration could not come at a better time as the Honor Guard has been called upon to serve at a funeral ceremony Saturday.
Membership in the Honor Guard is opened to any fire, rescue, or law enforcement personnel in Ashe and Alleghany counties. Donations for flags of the fallen can be sent to the Ashe County Honor Guard at PO Box 135 West Jefferson, NC 28694.