MIDWEST CITY FIRE-RESCUE

Transcription

1 MIDWEST CITY FIRE-RESCUE Honor the Fallen, Guard the Tradition HONOR GUARD PROTOCOLS Version 1.0

2 Table of Contents Article I. 3 Mission Statement Article II MWCFD Honor Guard History Selection and Service Conduct and Ethics Article III... 7 Uniform Policy Article IV 10 Military Standards Article V. 13 Funeral Protocols Level I Service - Line Of Duty Death while on duty Level II Service Death of an Active Member Non-LODD Level III Service Death of a Retired Member Article VI 29 Bell Ceremony Firefighters Prayer Flag Folding Ceremony 2

3 Mission Statement FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT SHALL BE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEDGE OF THE MIDWEST CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT S HONOR GUARD TO RESPECTFULLY REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNING BODY, AND THE MIDWEST CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT S MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE EXTENDED MEMBERSHIP OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT S BROTHERHOOD. THE HONOR GUARD SHALL EMBODY THE IDEAS OF HONOR, RESPECT, LOYALTY, AND DUTY TO SERVE BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS MEMBERS OF AN ELITE TEAM. WHEN CALLED UPON, THE HONOR GUARD SHALL STAND POST OR GUARD, POST THE COLORS OF OUR NATION, PERFORM FLAG FOLDING CEREMONIES, AND/OR MARCH IN PROCESSIONS. PERFORMING THESE TASKS WILL BE DONE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HONOR GUARD, THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF TRAINING, AND THE DEPARTMENT FIRE CHIEF. 3

4 MWCFD Honor Guard History ARTICLE II When the Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard was formed in 2004, a group of dedicated individuals took the initiative for our department to fill a need for our brothers that had been missing. The original group of 10 met and decided on our uniforms, wants and needs, and our mission statement. After deciding on numerous issues, we went to then Chief Bower and IAFF Local 2066 and requested funding to form our Honor Guard. Thankfully funding was secured and our first organized event was the 2004 Oklahoma Fallen Firefighters Memorial in OKC. We have been honored to be involved in numerous funeral services, memorial services, National Services in Colorado Springs, CO and Emmittsburg, MD, and many civic and community events throughout the years and look forward to many more years of dedicated service. Protocol Manual The development of this manual includes many lessons that we have learned over the years. This manual and its content will undergo continuous updates as needed. There is one thing we have learned and that is to practice and prepare for the event but be ready at a moments notice for change. You must rely on the Honor Guard Commander or OIC for direction and listen to the commands given. This manual will give you the basics and prepare you for your service to the Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard. Selection Process When a vacancy becomes available on the MWCFD HG, the HG Commander will notify the Fire Chief and will notify other members of the department through active recruiting and through open letter. Only active members of the Midwest City Fire Department are eligible to join the HG. Any member wishing to join the Honor Guard shall write a letter to the Fire Chief and Honor Guard. Multiple factors will be utilized in selecting the candidate including but not limited to: years of service, perceived desire, any previous disciplinary actions, etc. The members of the MWCFD HG will vote on the candidates and a list of successful candidate(s) will be given to the Fire Chief for final approval. The new member must commit to 3 years of service to the MWCFD HG. 4

5 Honor Guard Commander Selection Upon the notification of the resignation of the Honor Guard Commander, the current members of HG will select a new HG Commander from the Honor Guard. Only active members of the HG are eligible to become commander. The member has to be nominated by another member and will be voted upon by the group. A member may not nominate himself or herself. Resignation from the Honor Guard Any member of the MWCFD HG may resign after his or her three (3) year commitment. The member shall write a letter of his or her intent to the Fire Chief and Honor Guard Commander so that the selection process for a new member can begin. Any member who resigns from the HG in good standing is eligible to rejoin the HG in the future. Removal from the Honor Guard If a member is found to have violated the Conduct and Ethics portion of this manual, he or she will be subject for removal from the HG. The removal shall be unanimous by the voting members. If the vote is not unanimous, then the HG Commander will inform the Fire Chief for final decision. Any member removed from the HG is not eligible to rejoin. Staffing The current membership consists of 12 members assigned in various numbers to the 3 shifts. Some attempt should be made to try and evenly distribute the members among the shifts but at no time shall a member be transferred to another shift solely for that purpose. The very nature of promotion, reassignments, new members, etc. makes it nearly impossible to have even distribution of Honor Guard members. Staffing consists of: 1 Honor Guard Commander 1 Assistant Commander 10 Honor Guard Members 5

6 Conduct The Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard will diligently keep in mind the importance of the event in which we are in attendance. As such, Honor Guard members will at all times adhere to the following conduct guidelines whether in uniform or not: A dedicated, serious, and respectful persona will be used at all times while in uniform in front of the public. Firefighters are always thought of in a positive way and us as Honor Guard members must take that to a higher level by going above and beyond. The very nature of wearing our uniform sets us apart and WE WILL at all times uphold the traditions of the fire service, our brotherhood, and most of all, for those who we are there to show honor to and their families. Every uniformed personnel will be addresses by their appropriate rank. Every citizen will be addressed as Sir and Ma am unless asked to do otherwise No cursing or obscene language will be used while performing an activity or while in uniform waiting to perform. No tobacco use is permitted while in uniform No sunglasses are to be worn while performing or in formation. Sunglasses are permitted while in uniform as long as it does not conflict with the above criteria. No horseplay of any kind will be tolerated while in uniform. The decision making process of our conduct will simply be a choice of what is right and what is wrong. We as members of an elite group must adhere to higher standards. The way we conduct ourselves as individuals, whether in uniform or not, directly reflects on the entire group as a whole. We must always do our best to conduct ourselves professionally and with respect to the job at hand. The motto of Honor the Fallen, Guard the Tradition invented and adopted by our Honor Guard from its inception should be taken very seriously and should be your driving force during your service with the Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard. 6

7 Ethics Our ethics will be guided by the values of: Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, Accountability, Patriotism, Responsibility, and Dedication. The members of the Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard have strong principles and core values that will determine proper and correct behavior at all times. Every member of the Honor Guard should always keep in mind that the public will expect a higher level of ethical behavior and our actions will reflect that. 7

8 ARTICLE III Uniform Policy Purpose: To assist MWCFD Honor Guard members with the preparation of their uniform for use by providing detailed information for standardization so that all members uniforms will be exactly the same. Scope: Applies to all members of the Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard. Uniform: The Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard uniform is meant to show the highest respect for the traditions of the Fire Service as a whole as well as representing ourselves and our brothers and sisters on the department. The uniform consists of the following: Hat Bell style cap in dark navy blue with black patent leather brim. Gold braid trim shall be placed above the brim secured with gold FD buttons. Maltese Cross hat badge shall be placed so that the edge of the badge does not exceed the top of the hat. Some alterations to the mounting hole may be necessary. Jacket Double breasted traditional fire service Class A Jacket with six gold FD buttons. The FD shall face properly and not angled or upside down. Badge shall be placed over left chest in the provided badge holder already attached to the jacket. Black Honor Guard patch shall be placed on both sleeves 1 down from seam line and centered on natural crease. Jacket Shoulder Cord Shall be worn on left shoulder with the gold fleur de lis facing to the rear and gold braided cord placed under the arm. The double red cord will be on top of the arm and the brass tip cord hanging down naturally by the badge. 8

9 Shirt Traditional white long sleeve Class A uniform shirt. Badge shall be worn over left chest. Black Honor Guard Patch on left sleeve. Shirt Name Plate Shall be worn on right chest pocket. It shall be placed on the center line with the top edge of the name plate being even with the top edge of the pocket. Shirt Collar Brass MWCFD collar brass will be used by members with the rank of firefighter and senior firefighter. It shall be placed so that the edge of the M and the edge of the D are at the edge of the collar and forms an equal triangle. Chevrons, Bugles or Oak Leafs shall be utilized by members with the rank of sergeant lieutenant, captain, major, or assistant chief. The brass shall be placed centered on the collar with the bottom edge of the rank ½ from the collar tip. Pant Dark navy blue with gold and red stripe down seam of both legs. Black belt with gold buckle will be used. Shoes Black patent leather or similar material with black socks only. The uniform shall be stored in a ready condition free of stray threads, lint, hair, or other debris with shirt starched and pressed and all brass cleaned and shined. Your uniform must be ready to use on short notice as most functions are generally made known with little lead time. Just prior to an event is not the time to find out that your uniform is not ready. 9

10 Military Standards Position of Attention: ARTICLE IV Assume the position of "Attention" on the command "ATTEN-HUT." To assume this position, bring the heals together smartly so that the heels are on the same line with the toes pointing out equally, forming an angle of 45 degrees. Keep the legs straight without locking the knees. Hold the body erect with the hips level, chest lifted and arched, and the shoulders square and even. Let the arms hang straight, without stiffness, along the sides with the back of the hands outward. Curl the fingers so that the tips of the thumb are alongside and touching the first joint of the forefingers. Keep the thumbs straight and along the seams of the trousers with all fingertips touching the trouser leg. Keep the head erect and hold it squarely to the front with the chin drawn slightly in so that the axis of the head and neck is vertical. Look straight to the front. Rest the weight of the body equally on the heels and balls of the feet. Remain silent except when replying to a question or when directed otherwise. Position of Parade Rest: Parade rest is commanded from the position of "Attention" only. The command for this movement is "PARADE REST." On the command ("Rest ), move the left foot ten inches to the left of the right foot. Keep the legs straight, resting the weight of the body equally on the heels and balls of both feet. Simultaneously place the hands centered at the beltline in front of you. Place the left hand over the right hand with the left index finger at the right wrist line. Hold the head and eyes as at the position of "Attention." Remain silent and do not move. "Stand at ease," "At Ease," or "Rest may be commanded from this position. 10

11 Stand at Ease: The command for this movement is "STAND AT EASE." On the command ("Ease"), execute "parade rest" but turn the head and eyes directly toward the officer in charge. "At Ease" or "Rest may be commanded from this position. At Ease: The command for this movement is "AT EASE." On the command ("At Ease"), movement is allowed but personnel must remain standing and silent with the right foot in place. "Rest may be commanded from this position. Rest: The command for this movement is "REST." On the command ("Rest ), movement, talking, or drinking is allowed unless otherwise specified. Personnel must remain standing with the right foot in place. "At Ease" may be commanded from this position. Hand Salute: The hand salute is a one-count movement. The command is "PRESENT ARMS." On the command ("Arms") raise the right hand slowly on a three count to the hat and with the tip of the forefinger touch the rim of the visor slightly to the right of the right eye. The fingers and thumb are extended and joined, palm down. The outer edge of the hand is barely canted downward so that neither the palm nor the back of the hand is visible from the front. The upper arm is horizontal with the elbow inclined slightly forward and the hand and wrist straight. Order arms is a one-count movement. The command is "ORDER, ARMS." On the command ("Arms"), return the hand slowly on a three count to the side, resuming the position of attention. When uncovered, the hand salute is executed in the same manner as previously described, except the tip of the forefinger touches the forehead near the eyebrow and slightly to the right of the right eye. 11

12 Fall Out: Fall out is commanded from the position of Attention only. The command for this movement is FALL OUT. On the command Out, the members are relieved from the formation. Axe and Colors Movements: It is highly recommended for members assigned to the Color Guard to utilize cotton, non-slip gloves. For the axes, depending on the position of the member in formation, the axe will begin in the outside hand of the formation. The medallion on the axe will always face outwards away from the body towards the audience or the direction of marching. The outside hand will grasp the top of the axe head with the axe handle directly in line and against the outside leg. The pick portion of the axe should be facing forward. The free hand and the rest of the body will assume the Attention position. Parade Rest and Colors Ready may be commanded from this position. For the colors, the pole will begin being held with the right hand. The right arm will be straight as possible while still maintaining control of the flagpole. If the formation is outdoors, it may be necessary to hold the colors in the right hand in addition to the flagpole. This is done to prevent the colors from waving uncontrollably. The flagpole shall rest against the forearm, arm bend, and shoulder to maintain as much control as possible. The left arm is at the side in the Attention position. Parade Rest with the axe is a one count movement. The command is PARADE REST. On the command ( Rest ), bring the hand holding the axe in front of the body with the medallion facing outward and place the handle of the axe equally between the legs placing the free hand on top of the hand holding the axe. Simultaneously move the left foot 10 inches away from the right foot. Attention is the only command from this position. Parade Rest for the colors is a one count movement. On the command ( Rest ), bring the left arm to the flagpole and grasp the pole so that the left arm is parallel with the floor. Simultaneously move the left foot 10 inches away from the right foot. Attention is the only command from this position. 12

13 Colors Ready is a command given to the axes and flags in a color guard formation. The command is intended to get the axe and flag in a ready position for marching. The command is given from the position of Attention. For the axes, this is a 4 step movement. On the command ( Ready ), the first movement is to bring the hand holding the axe head up and to the center of the body with the hand at chin level. The second movement is to bring the free hand to the axe handle and grasp approximately 2/3 s of the way down from the axe head. The third movement is to bring the hand from the axe head down to the handle just below the axe head. The fourth and final movement is to pivot the entire axe down to a 45 degree angle from the floor. For the colors, this movement is entirely dependent on the marching situation. The colors may be carried in several different manners due to type of location (i.e. indoors/outdoors, ceiling height, up/down stairs, etc). Some examples of carry positions include but are not limited to: in shoulder carried holders, at the side facing forward at an angle, etc. The carry position will be determined by the member in charge of the color guard at that function. Present Colors: Present Colors is a command given when displaying the colors before an audience. The command is ALWAYS given from the Attention position. This is accomplished by all colors with the exception of the National Color being dipped simultaneously to approximately a forty-five degree angle from the body. Colors shall remain in this position until the command Order Colors is given. Order Colors: Order Colors is a command given when colors are to be returned to their previous marching position. This position is dependent upon the situation and logistics. This is accomplished by all colors with the exception of the National Color being raised simultaneously to the proper marching position. 13

14 Prepare Colors: The command Prepare Colors designates that the flags will be moved from the position of which they were marched in to immediately in front of the individual flag bearer and over the flag base. This command is also used when retiring colors from the posted position. The command Prepare Colors designates members to take hold of the flags. Post Colors: The command Post Colors designates the flags to be placed into the bases. Flags will be turned so that the eagle and spears are straightened with the seam of the flag along the back of the pole, Flags will be "fluffed" so that they are draped from upper left to lower right, when viewed from the front, with the tassels in front. After the Colors have been posted, both members shall take one step backwards and perform a hand salute (member on the state colors shall turn slightly to face the National Colors prior to the hand salute). Retire Colors: The command Retire Colors designates the removing of the flags from their bases, and moving the flags to the position of in which they were marched in. Prepare Colors, Post Colors, and Retire Colors are quite often unspoken commands due to the logistics associated with the posting of colors. This is because most posting ceremonies have the National Colors and the State Colors separated by some distance either on a stage or in an auditorium setting. The commands are executed silently by having the member assigned to the National Colors controlling the flow of the posting. The member assigned to the State colors must utilize their direct and peripheral vision to maintain symmetry with the member on the National Colors. 14

15 ARTICLE V Funeral Protocol Purpose: To assist the Midwest City Fire Department in planning for memorial services and funerals for Line of Duty deaths, active duty deaths, and retiree deaths. To explain the levels of service and honors provided by the MCFD Honor Guard. Scope: Applies to all Midwest City Fire Department uniformed personnel, both active duty and retired. Definitions: Line of Duty Death, traumatic injuries The death must be the result of a traumatic injury suffered in the line of duty. Line of Duty Death, non-traumatic injuries A non-traumatic injury that is strongly believed or has been proven to be attributable to the job. (i.e. stress, heart attack, stroke, hepatitis, Aids, suicide, etc.) Active member A member of the Midwest City Fire Department serving in an active capacity, whether it be line personnel, 8-hour workers, or light duty. Active Duty Death A death of an active member who dies or is killed off duty and not duty related. Inactive/Retired Member An inactive or retired member of the Midwest City Fire Department Non-Job Related Death Deaths, natural or traumatic, that are not fire or EMS duty related 15

16 Introduction: One of the main responsibilities of our Honor Guard is to provide honors for fallen comrades. Funeral and memorial services for our fallen is a major event, everything must be carefully planned. The Honor Guard needs to take the lead role when it comes to planning the event. The families are usually too upset to plan any of the details and must be assisted by us. Fire Department Chaplains are usually assigned to the family and these Chaplains need to be very familiar with the functions of the Honor Guard. We must ensure that the Chaplain is educated on what our responsibilities are before speaking to the family. There are many jobs during a funeral or memorial service that must be done by Honor Guard members. Commanders and Team Leaders need to establish a checklist to ensure every aspect of the service is properly covered. This checklist needs to be available to chaplains, department heads, and local funeral home directors so all those involved in the planning process are on the same page. A good working relationship between the Honor Guard and the funeral homes needs to be made prior to the time for the services. Although most funeral homes are familiar with military style funerals, we must coordinate and communicate with them at all times so our plan and theirs work together. This article will cover from the moment of notification to the end of the service and will provide a guide for Chief Officers, team leaders, and commanders to use. No matter how large or how small the service will be, it is our responsibility to ensure that honor, respect and dignity is paid to our fallen comrade and to their family at all times. 16

17 Notification: As soon as the news arrives about a fallen comrade, many things will go through your mind. Something that makes it even harder to deal with is if you personally knew or were on the crew of the fallen officer or firefighter. The event that took their life may still be going on, and now you have another event that needs immediate attention and the process of planning and coordinating begins. There are many Guards and neighboring agencies that are available and will assist with the process. Everyone in Emergency Services should be familiar with ICS. We need to utilize the Incident Command System and have a complete Incident Action Plan. Using ICS forms will help us keep track of personnel and ensure everything is covered. Contacting team members and assigning tasks will be a big help and keep everyone involved. One of our initial assignments will be to keep someone with the deceased at all times. Our fallen comrade will never be alone. This can be done with any uniformed personnel but first priority should be given to members of his or her crew and to Honor Guard members. Depending on the situation, the deceased may be sent to the Medical Examiner s office for an autopsy. An Honor Guard member shall escort the deceased to and from the Medical Examiner s office. Guideline: This guideline defines different levels of honor with corresponding suggested arrangement options. Before any plan is instituted, the deceased member s family must agree with the department s intended participation. During the entire funeral planning process, the department must consider the family s wishes. The department shall use the Line of Duty Death questionnaire when appropriate. The family may choose to forgo some suggested and appropriate level of honor services. In some instances, the family may decide to hold only a private ceremony for the family. Especially in LODD and active duty deaths, it should be suggested that the family consider a second service for fire department personnel, the coworkers that inevitably will want to pay their respects to the deceased member. 17

18 Levels of Service The following guidelines should be used for any Emergency Service Members funeral service coordinating by the Midwest City Fire Department Honor Guard and is separated into three levels of service. No matter what the level performed, honor and respect to the fallen member and their families should always be first and foremost. Agencies may vary the guidelines some due to particular circumstances, but there should be some type of distinction between line of duty deaths and non-line of duty deaths. The loss of a member while in the performance of their duties is a tragic event that each one faces on each alarm or call. And when that occurs, special circumstances should apply strictly for the loss of a member on duty. The loss of any member, current or retired, is difficult for any agency to face, and many agencies want to do as much as they can to honor their memory, each one is important and should be properly handled but certain differences should apply Level I service Death of an Active Duty Member while on duty In the event of a Line-of-Duty death, the following protocols will be observed: An official period of mourning of thirty (30) days will be declared. All departmental flags will fly at half -staff and all members will wear a black mourning band on their badges. The station sign of the deceased member(s) will be draped with black bunting. On the day of the funeral, the member's unit will be draped in black bunting. Motorcycle escorts for the family will be provided to and from funeral home, the church and the burial site. The member's funeral will be with full departmental honors, to include: Flag draped casket Casket carried on MWCFD apparatus. It shall be cleaned, waxed, all hose removed from hose bed, and all tools and equipment cleaned and painted. Black bunting shall be placed on the front and side of the apparatus. FD - pallbearers (8) Color Guard (5) **May need to use HG from other dept.** 5 x9 US Flag placed on casket. 18

19 Apparatus procession Honor Guard Bagpipers Motorcycle escort Last alarm ceremony Ringing of the Bell ceremony Bugler playing taps Eulogy and speeches by Chief, Union, Government Officials Burial in dress uniform provided by the department (If family desires) Crossed aerial ladders at entrance to cemetery or at location of services with large US Flag hanging between the ladders. Presentation to the family of the deceased members badge and helmet. Presentation to the family of a folded US Flag. Listed below are the procedures to be followed for a funeral of an active member killed in the Line of Duty and the various personnel and departmental elements that will be conducting the funeral. Ceremonial Coordinator - The Ceremonial Coordinator shall be the Coordinator of the Ceremonial Unit, or his/her designee. The Ceremonial Coordinator shall be in complete charge of all ceremonial arrangements where official departmental participation has been requested and authorized by the Fire Chief. He/she shall: See that the proper ceremonial detail is selected. Arrange for sufficient personnel for traffic control with the Logistics Officer Arrange for necessary escorts with the Logistics Officer Provide the PIO with any information as needed Confer and coordinate with the Official in Charge of the Honor Guard Official in Charge of the Honor Guard - The OIC of the Honor Guard shall be the Honor Guard Team Leader or Assistant Team Leader. He/she is responsible for the proper functional execution of commands to the various elements of the Honor Guard, the Fire Department Formation, and the Funeral Escort. He shall have general responsibility for the following: Shall issue all commands for the Honor Guard. 19

20 Shall confer with the Ceremonial Coordinator regarding the time of arrival and other pertinent information regarding assigned details. Arrange for sufficient personnel to assist with the proper forming of the funeral escort. If directed by the Ceremonial Coordinator, will confer with the minister, funeral director and the superintendent of the cemetery regarding necessary arrangements. Visit the various sites involved and make careful arrangements for the positioning of the various elements of the funeral detail. Designate an assembly point near the site of the detail. At this time, he/she will inspect the uniform of members and brief them on proper procedures. Honor Guard - The Honor Guard shall consist of the following: Coordinator Team Leader Assistant Team Leader Color Guard Casket Team Bugler Casket Team - This team consists of eight members who will be in complete control of the casket from the first time the body is moved to the end of the burial services. They shall be responsible for folding the flag that draped the casket and present it to the Fire Chief who, in turn shall present it to the designated survivor, normally a spouse or a child. Bugler - There will be either one or two buglers who will play "Taps" or "Echo Taps" Casket Guards - These are members of the department who wish to be involved in the ceremonial process. First priority should be given to members of the deceased crew as well as Honor Guard members. They shall be positioned at the head and the foot of the casket from one half hour before the viewing opens to one half hour after the viewing closes at the position of Parade Rest. A member of the department shall remain with the deceased at ALL times, 24 hours a day, until the deceased is laid to rest. The Honor Guard Team Leader or designee will supervise coordination of the casket guards. 20

21 During the Memorial Service, Casket Guards are placed at the head and foot of the casket to show support for the deceased member and their family. The placement, exchange, and retrieval of these guards should be done in a formal military type manner. One person should be in charge of the Casket Guard and doesn t necessarily have to be a MWCFD HG member; it can be a member of a visiting HG who volunteers to take over that portion of the ceremony. Casket Guards should be posted as soon as the deceased member arrives at the funeral service up until the service starts. Having guards posted during the actual service should not be done as the service normally lasts quite a long time and the guards will not be able to be changed out without interrupting the service. Initial Posting of the Guards: The Casket Guard commander should lead the guard to the casket stopping approximately 4-5 feet from the casket. The team will render a ceremonial salute. The Casket Guard will step forward to a position at the head and foot and turn facing forward toward the audience. They will assume the position of parade rest until they are replaced or relieved. Practice is essential to get the timing down and the basic movements consistent. Changing Guards: Changing of guards should be done every minutes depending on the number of personnel available. Honorary Pallbearers - If the family so desires, a contingent of six family members and/or friends shall be designated Honorary Pallbearers; and will walk behind the Casket Team. Fire Department Formation - The Fire Department Formation shall consist of the following elements: All members of the Midwest City Fire Department o Chief Officers (Active and Retired) o Officers (Active and Retired) o Department Personnel (Active and Retired) Midwest City Government Representatives Midwest City Law Enforcement Personnel o Police Chief o Officers o Departmental Civilian Personnel Visiting Honor Guard Teams Visiting Fire and Law Enforcement Agencies 21

22 The Official in Charge of the Honor Guard will have sole responsibility for determining where these different elements will be formed both at the funeral site and the burial site. While each site for a funeral service will be different, a traditional fire department formation will be assembled as followed: Immediately outside the Church or Funeral Home, flanking the door, will be the Honor Guard. In the street, from near curb to far curb, will be the hearse and the family's vehicles, the Color Guard, Chief Officers (Active and Retired), Government Officials, Officers (Acting and Retired), Department Representatives (Acting and Retired), visiting agency Honor Guards, visiting agency personnel. Funeral Escort The funeral escort shall consist of all members who will be responding, via motorcade to the burial site. The funeral escort, when ready to proceed to the burial site, shall be formed up in the following manner: Motorcycle outriders. To be utilized if full intersection control is not possible. Remaining motorcycles formed in a column of twos Casket Team Fire Chief and Member's Commanding Officer Engine being utilized as a Hearse Family Car(s) MWC FD Department Staff Vehicles MWC FD Department Fire Apparatus Visiting Fire Department staff vehicles Visiting Fire Department Apparatus MWC PD Law Enforcement Vehicles Visiting Law Enforcement Vehicles All Civilian Vehicles 22

23 Upon being notified of the death of an active member killed in the Line-of- Duty, members of the MWCFD HG and volunteers will immediately set out to perform the following tasks: Drape the deceased member's station sign with black bunting Establish a point of contact for outside agencies. Arrange for the draping of the member's primary assigned apparatus Respond to the site of the funeral service and the burial service and draw up site plans for positioning the various formations. Determine what site posts are needed. Meet with the Traffic Enforcement Branch Commander and coordinate a route for the traditional ride by and determine what traffic posts will be necessary. Arrange for the Helicopter fly-by. Draw up an operational plan for the day of the funeral service for the Fire Chief, the Honor Guard Coordinator, and the members of the Midwest City FD. If possible, brief members prior to the services. On the day of the funeral, the Ceremonial Coordinator will be in overall command, and the Official in Charge of the Honor Guard will be in operational command of the entire funeral detail. While each funeral is unique, the day of the funeral should proceed as follows: If necessary, the Casket Team, along with members of the Honor Guard, will proceed to the funeral home and escort the body to the church. Members of the Motorcycle Unit will respond to the family home or other predetermined site to pick up the immediate family and escort them to the church. The Midwest City Police Department will respond to the church, shut down what streets are necessary to facilitate parking, and assist with parking the arriving departmental units. A staging area will be established and a staging officer assigned to park all arriving vehicles. If necessary, prior to the arrival of the hearse, the Official in Charge will form up the various department personnel. The members of the Casket Team will transfer the body into the church and the appropriate honors will be rendered. If the family has not arrived at this time, the Official in Charge will maintain-the formation until the family has arrived. 23

24 After the funeral service all members of the department and visiting agencies, both Fire and Law Enforcement, will exit the church prior to the transfer of the body and establish the various formations as determined by the Official in Charge of the Honor Guard. As the Casket Team, followed by the immediate family, approaches the church door, the entire formation will be brought to "Attention" and when the Casket Team breaks the plane of the door the order for Present Arms" will be given. Upon this order, all uniformed members of the formation will render a hand salute. Members not in uniform will NOT render a hand salute but instead shall place their right hand over their heart. Present Arms" will be maintained until the casket is placed atop the apparatus. At this time, the order for "Order Arms" will be given and the hand salute will be dropped. After the Honor Guard have been dismissed and have left the immediate area, the entire formation will be dismissed and should proceed to their vehicles and wait for instructions from the Honor Guard Officer in Charge. Burial Site At the burial site, the Official in Charge of the Honor Guard will form up the Color Guard and other members in the pre-determined locations. He will also determine that the Bagpiper and/or pipe and drum band and the Bugler(s) are ready and in their proper locations. Upon the arrival of the Funeral Escort, time will be allotted for the arrival of the remainder of the procession, but in no case will the family be kept waiting longer than twenty (20) minutes. During this time, the Official in Charge will form up the remainder of the fire department formation. As the Casket Team prepares to transfer the body from the hearse to the burial site, the entire formation will be brought to "Attention". When the casket breaks the plane of the apparatus, the order to Present Arms" will be given. After the Casket Team transfers the body to the gravesite, the order for "Order Arms" will be given and the formation will be brought to Parade Rest." After the burial service, the formation will be brought back to "Attention" and the order to Present Arms" will be given; the Bugler will play Taps while the casket team holds the flag over the casket. At the end of Taps, the flag shall be folded and given to the Honor Guard Team Leader; the Honor Guard Team Leader will present the flag to the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall present the flag to the members next of kin. After the flag is presented to the family, the order for "Order Arms" will be given. The Bagpiper shall play Amazing Grace. At the conclusion of Amazing Grace, the Helicopter fly-by will commence. If an additional flag (departmental) is to be presented, the deceased member's Commanding Officer will present the additional flag. At this point, the burial service is over and the formation will be dismissed. 24

25 Level II Service-Death of an Active Duty Member Non-LODD Death of an active duty member due to a sudden illness or accident that occurs while not in the performance of regular duty will classify as a Level II service. Services to be provided should be, but not limited too: A member of the MWCFD will remain with the deceased from time of death until burial. A member of the MWCFD will be assigned as liaison to the family and assist the family with any needs and assistance with arrangements. Badges covered with mourning bands from time of death till burial. Flags flown outside stations can be lowered. Flying a mourning flag such as the thin red line flag at half-mast below the US Flag is appropriate. Services provided at funeral service should include: 5x9 US flag if deceased was a former member in good standings of the Armed Forces. A State Flag or Organizational flag for nonformer military personnel. Bagpiper. Use of a hearse to carry the casket. A Midwest City FD Engine with bunting will be placed in front of the hearse. If requested by the family, the Engine can be used as a caisson, but black bunting will only be draped over the emergency lights. Use of MWCFD HG personnel as pallbearers, or as honorary pallbearers unless otherwise requested by the family. Provide casket guards prior to the services. Ringing of the bell ceremony. Final Call/Alarm by dispatch. If deceased was prior military, firing detail and taps can be provided by veterans organization or TAFB HG if available. Presentation of the folded flag to the family. 25

26 Level III Service-Death of a Retired Member Death of a retired member of the Midwest City Fire Department will classify as a Level III service. MWCFD services provided if desired by the family should be, but not limited to: Badges covered during the services until burial. Use of hearse to carry casket. If deceased was a founding member of the MWCFD, a fire apparatus can be used to carry the casket. Black bunting would not be used. 5x9 US Flag if deceased was a former member in good standings of the Armed Services. Use of Service related flag for non-military personnel. MWCFD personnel as honorary pallbearers. MWCFD personnel can be pallbearers if needed. Use of an Honor Guard unit. Minimum of 6 personnel. Provide casket guards for the service. Ringing of the bell ceremony for fire service. Firing detail/taps if deceased was prior military. Can be provided by veterans organization. Presentation of flag to family. Variations in any of the levels of service can be done upon approval of the Fire Chief and by the Honor Guard Commander. Family may request variations in the services and all exceptions should be made to accommodate their wishes or the final wishes of the deceased. MWCFD HG should brief the family and the funeral home on what services are available for that specific type of service and what we can provide. Ensuring an honorable service is provided no matter what the circumstances should be first and foremost. Use of a US Flag on the casket should be reserved for line of duty deaths or death of veterans of the Armed Forces. Service related flags or state flags suitable for placement on a casket should be used for non-military personnel. Incorporating other groups into a funeral service Many in the emergency services have been, or may still be, members of the Armed Forces or other groups or organizations upon their death that may want to, or is required to participate in the funeral service. Coordination between the MWCFD and these outside groups should be done during the planning phase of the service with the family and the funeral home staff present. Some organizations have protocols and rituals that call for them to 26

27 place items on the casket during the service. If a flag of any type, especially a US Flag, is on the casket, it will need to be removed prior to the placement of any items on the casket. The Flag can be folded back partially by the funeral home staff or the Honor Guard while the item(s) is placed on the casket, then returned to full cover afterwards. The Honor Guard Commander should be very watchful during other organizations final services so proper protocols and standards are not breeched. Organizations such as the Masons place pine sprigs on a casket after their part of the service has concluded. Catholic priest and ministers place a small handful of dirt on the casket during the comitial service. Other groups or organizations have similar rituals and it is very important that the Honor Guard commander and the funeral home staff be familiar with those rituals and plan accordingly. Veteran Organizations also provide final burial services for prior military personnel and may also be incorporated within the services. Firing details, taps and flag folding are some of the functions they provide and should be coordinated with the MWCFD HG prior to prevent duplication. Joint operations can be conducted with the veterans as procedures are very similar. Flags covering Caskets By military standards, all active duty and veterans of the Armed Services upon the time of their death will be provided a 5 x9 US Flag for presentation to the family. The flag can be draped across the casket with the stars across the left shoulder. Of it can be folded properly and placed upon a stand. If the family desires a spray of flowers placed upon the casket, the flag will be folded and either placed on a stand at the head of the casket or placed inside the casket if opened for viewing just above the deceased left shoulder. Those personnel in the emergency services who were not prior military, other than a line-of-duty-death, can have a service related or state flag displayed in the same manner. Many in the Emergency Services will argue that all should receive a US Flag upon their death, but there needs to be some variations in recognition of those who served the country in the military services. US Flags will be provided by the Veterans Administration for prior military personnel. The funeral home will need a copy of the deceased DD-214, discharge papers, and the deceased must have been honorably discharged or may still be in the reserves. If the deceased was not prior military and died in the line of duty, the MWCFD is responsible for providing a US Flag. The MWCFD is responsible for providing service related flags for use in the burial service. Many funeral homes have US Flags on hand if the FD cannot obtain one prior to the services, however the FD should replace it with the funeral home as soon as possible. 27

28 Mourning Bands covering Badges/patches Mourning bands are another symbol that the emergency services utilize to honor our fallen. Mourning bands should be worn according to the level of service that is to be provided. A period of thirty (30) days for a line-of-duty death, time of death till day of burial service for non-line of duty death, and during the services for a retired member is the standard that MWCFD members should use. Mourning bands should be made of ¾ black elastic material and sized to fit around the center portion of the badge. Some commercially made mourning bands have a thin red line in the center and can be easily purchased. Black electrical tape will not be used due to the fact that it does not provide for a professional appearance. Folded black ribbons can be worn on the lapel of suit jackets of members not in uniform. 28

29 ARTICLE VI BELL CEREMONY The men and women of today s fire service are confronted with a more dangerous work environment than ever before. We are forced to continually change our strategies and tactics to accomplish our tasks. Our methods may change, but our goals remain the same as they were in the past, to save lives and to protect property, sometimes at a terrible cost. This is what we do, this is our chosen profession, this is the tradition of the fire fighter. The fire service of today is ever changing, but is steeped in traditions over 200 years old. One such tradition is the sound of a bell. In the past, as fire fighters began their tour of duty, it was the bell that signaled the beginning of that day s shift. Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by a bell, which summoned these brave souls to fight fires and to place their lives in jeopardy for the good of their fellow citizen. And when the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bell that signaled to all the completion of that call. When a fire fighter had died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice, it was the mournful toll of the bell that solemnly announced a comrade's passing. We utilize these traditions as symbols, which reflect honor and respect on those who have given so much and who have served so well. To symbolize the devotion that these brave souls had for their duty, a special signal of three rings, three times each, represents the end of our comrades duties and that they will be returning to quarters. And so, to those who have selflessly given their lives for the good of their fellow man, their tasks completed, their duties well done, to our comrades, their last alarm, they are going home. 29

30 FIRE FIGHTER S PRAYER When I am called to duty, God Wherever flames may rage Give me strength to save a life Whatever be its age. Let me embrace a little child Before it is too late Or save an older person from The horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert And hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently To put the fire out. I want to fill my calling To give the best in me, To guard my friend and neighbor And protect their property. And, if, according to your will, While on duty I must answer death s call; Bless with your protecting hand My family, one and all. 30

31 Flag Folding As an Army and Navy custom, the flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is then carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night. This custom of special folding is reserved for the United States Flag alone. How to fold the Flag Step 1 To properly fold the Flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground. Step 2 Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely. 31

32 Step 3 Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside. Step 4 Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag. Step 5 Turn the outer (end) point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle. Step 6 The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner. 32

33 Step 7 When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible. Flag Folding Ceremony The flag folding ceremony described by the Uniformed Services is a dramatic and uplifting way to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, and is sometimes used at retirement ceremonies. Here is a typical sequence of the reading: (Begin reading as Honor Guard or Flag Detail is coming forward). The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country in uniform. In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body. (Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to unravel and fold the flag into a quarter fold--resume reading when Honor Guard is standing ready.) The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life. 33