EMS Honor Guards

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Permalink Reply by Will Merrins on December 24, 2008 at 9:42pm

A.J.

I belong to the "Honor Guard" in my department. However we are known as the ceremonial unit due, mainly in fact, that we are responsible for all ceremonies the department is part of. From graduations to funerals to color guards at sporting events or even just when a person in uniform is needed somewhere. Prior to March 1996 the unit was known as the NYC-EMS CDU. It was made up of 40 members, most with military background. Our uniforms were distinctive and quite sharp. Now we wear a modification of a standard FDNY uniform as the two ceremonial units merged as well.

For many years, I have been involved with the National EMS Memorial Service Honor Guard. As you know the NEMSMS Honor Guard is made up of EMS agencies from around the country. Many have similar uniforms, of the same basic concept. Boston EMS, in my humble opinion, has the best looking Honor Guard uniforms and many other agencies have worked their uniforms from Boston's basic idea. The Northshore-LIJ health system from NY is another sharp unit that sends its prospective members to the National Honor Guard academy. The NS-LIJ uniform is of similar cut and design with a different cap and color scheme. Pittsburgh EMS is quite sharp as well. On a side note, the Board of the NEMSMS is discussing a uniform as well and the concept is the same as many of the agencies represented at the service. The idea of a standardized "EMS Dress Uniform" that would make thoes in our chosen field as easy to identify as a firefighter or police officer is a great concept.

Getting to the discussion of state based or county based honor guards. There are many states that are represented by one honor guard, Oregon and Minisota are among them. It is a great idea and as you stated, it is easier to have an agency put 3 or 4 members in the unit over trying to field 40. Also, it would give agencies the ability to send their most squared away people to represent not only the state(or county) but the agency as well (a win-win). The only caveat would be politics. It would have to be an "all embracing" unit. Where paid and volunteer, 911 and transport, fire based-hospital based-private-third service, ground and air, union and nonunion would all have a place. That will be a big job but one that should be done.

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Permalink Reply by B Meckley on December 26, 2008 at 8:33am

Good Morning A.J.,

We have an EMS Honor Guard in my area. All the EMS Agencies belong to the County Ambulance Association and that group works together on items such as this. The associtation had began an EMS honor gaurd a few years back. They had invited all interested members from within all the different agencies to join at thier own will. They had developed guidelines for the conduct and edicut for funerals, parades, and when they were general public. The uniforms look great and are extremely impressive. They have represented the EMS community in funerals for EMS members and marched in parades.

I will see if I can find some pictures for you. Happy Holidays and a great year in 2009 !!!!

~BAM~

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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on December 26, 2008 at 9:09am

Honor Guards can be a great addition to an EMS organization. They allow you to put a sharp foot forward for public and ceremonial occasions. Too often folks wait until they really need one (like somebody dies), and then try to slap one together.

It is challenging trying to get folks to commit to doing what it takes to have a sharp honor guard. It's a lot more work than just "dressing up" and standing around. There are right ways and wrong ways to do drill, flag handling, funerals, etc. Nothing will make some people more angry than seeing inappropriate flag drill - it's disrespectful and shows that you DON'T know what you're doing. For example, it's improper to do facing movements (left face, right face) with a flag mounted (carried at the waist).

Wake County EMS Division has an honor guard - see http://www.wakegov.com/ems/news/23585.htm. They represent us at all sorts of events, parades, funerals, the National EMS Memorial Service. They've event been invited to post the colors for the swearing in of new US citizens by our local federal judiciary. We also participate in our local inter-service pipes and drums, the Wake & District Public Safety Pipes & Drums, made up of medics, cops, firefighters, and others (see www.forourfallen.org).

I hope that this investment of time and energy at home and around the country helps to build pride, morale, motivation, and the public image of EMS, both inside and outside. It's not that expensive - you can build a really nice honor guard uniform out of a basic dress uniform at small cost. Of course, you gotta have a dress uniform first.

Incidentally, for any pipers out there, I have composed two unique bagpipe tunes for EMS. One is called "Lament for a Fallen Paramedic," and is intended as a funeral tune. The other is called "The Unified Pipes and Drums of the National EMS Memorial Service Farewell to Roanoke." It is a tribute to the service in Roanoke and all the fine professionals who make it possible, and recognition that 2009 will be the last year for the location. Pipers can contact me off-list and I'll send the BWW files.

Skip

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Permalink Reply by bosco578 on December 26, 2008 at 7:50pm

I am a member of our Departments Guard Of Honour. http://www.emshonourguard.com/epgoh.html

Ben,

Edmonton Paramedic Guard Of Honour

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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on December 27, 2008 at 8:42am

Nice page, Ben. And nice that the Canadian EMS honor guard folk have banded together.

AJ, a question for you (being that you are one of our visionaries and oracles) - is this something that we should be working to promote, foster, grow?

If so, how? I'm all for it.

Skip

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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on January 4, 2009 at 3:28pm

Here's an interesting web page for those interested in Honor Guard matters.

http://www.nctroopers.org/CaissonUnit.html

We (our bagpipe band) recently supported a funeral for a state trooper killed in an on-duty vehicle crash. The NCTA (state troopers' association) caisson unit participated. It was a really classy addition to the ceremony.

Wouldn't it be nice if some group out there built and maintained a horse-drawn antique ambulance wagon that could be used for the same purpose?

Or perhaps an antique motorized ambulance?

Skip

Attachments:

• earlyamb.jpg, 22 KB
• horse-drawn ambulance.doc, 320 KB

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Permalink Reply by Jon Krieckhaus on January 4, 2009 at 3:52pm

We have an honor guard which I am not a part of and for the most part it is an afterthought only getting together for funerals and 1 or 2 parades in the past when it was first formed and the group was more enthusiastic. If you have ever attended a funeral for a police officer or fireman then you know what an impressive gathering it can be and the amount of respect shown for fellow officers or firemen. If we as EMS operators who are not already part of a fire dept. want the respect given the men and women of these professions, then we need more support in the areas of honor guard and the like. I think that no one would argue that EMS personel now lack most of that respect. I know part of it is due to EMS people are usually not "career people" I would say the career EMS provider is more the exception than the rule. Also EMS has not been around for as long as fire depts and have not fostered the comraderie among our peers.

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Permalink Reply by John Eric Henry on January 4, 2009 at 8:24pm

AMR in Alameda County California has had an Honor Guard program for at least the last 10 years. They are a self contained group that travels all around the United States. They have participated in a variety of services and worship for our fallen colleagues.
There were two video produced – one is rather ‘slap stick’ and takes the pressure out of what they do at times, and the other is more serious and commemorative. Please contact Mr. Rick Oliver of AMR in Alameda County to find out about the details in creating and leading an Honor Guard Program. (Sorry I don’t have his contact information at the moment)

Take Care and good luck.

John Eric Henry
Strategic EMS Consulting


Serious Commerative Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c58WvPrfl2s

Slapstick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c58WvPrfl2s

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Permalink Reply by Larry on January 4, 2009 at 8:38pm

New Castle County (DE) EMS has an Honor Guard. They have done ceremonial details during National EMS Week and at the National EMS Memorial Service. They have also done some joint Department of Public Safety Honor Guard details with the County Police at some county wide events. There are some photos on the "photo" page of our web site: www.nccde.org/ems

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Permalink Reply by Maryland Emergency Medical Services Program Inc. on January 5, 2009 at 10:00am

I am the founder of a state EMS program here in Maryland.
We are working towards that very idea our website and contact
information can be found here www.mdemsp.org we hope to start a
motorcycle honor guard program for fallen EMS / Fire Service Members within
our state. And are looking for input on this project.
Thanks
-Ted

Ted W. Snyder,NREMTB
Maryland Emergency Medical Services Program Inc.
www.mdemsp.org

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cohen on January 13, 2009 at 5:23pm

An open letter regarding developing Statewide EMS Statewide Honor Guards,

Reacting to interest from Colorado, recognizing the potential value to America’s EMS Community and motivated by the response of JEMS Editor AJ Heightman, the Lighthouse Uniform Company is ‘throwing its hat into the ring’.

If you see value in Statewide EMS Honor Guards, have advice to give and/or would be willing to ‘throw your hat in the ring’, please contact me at steve@lighthouseuniform.com.

Steve Cohen, Pres.,
Lighthouse Uniform Company
Home of the Fallen EMT/Paramedic Dress Uniform Program

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Permalink Reply by Brian Stewart on November 11, 2009 at 11:03pm

I have just recently started a state EMS Honor Guard in Missouri, our website is www.moemsfuneralteam.org. I'm very glad to see this movement where EMS departments are getting more involved with Honor Guards. I feel it is long overdue. I am simply taking the success of my departments Honor Guard (www.sccadhonorguard.com) and increasing its scope. We have had awesome feedback. I'm finding that there are a few individuals in every department that want to get involved in something that involves EMS. Opportunities to get more involved in the EMS movement can be few and far between, so our state EMS Honor Guard is proving to be that opportunity for these individuals, with great success.

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