The
Honor Guard Academy has been taking place once again in Galveston this
week. Four Galveston fire fighters were
enrolled. I haven’t been able to go as
often as I did last year, but Nathan has been one of the local department
liaisons again. He and Dustin Burnett
from our Galveston Fire Department Honor Guard have arranged for venues,
provided water for the classes, arranged for a rental car for the instructors,
and even set up a closing party for the class.
Lots of work, but the results make for some well-trained and
procedurally consistent honor guards across the region.
I did
manage to join the group yesterday for the mock line of duty death funeral
scenario held at the old cemetery on Broadway here in Galveston. It’s a pretty elaborate training setup. Our local union loaned out their fire truck to
use to deliver the coffin, which was included in a supply training trailer
loaned to us for the occasion by the Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force. There was a bugle for playing taps, a
ceremonial ax and rifle as well as flags for the color guard, and James Short,
one of our Galveston fire fighters, agreed to be there to play his
bagpipes. Fabulous job, by the way,
James. I was recruited to play the part
of … the chaplain performing the ceremony.
We
did have a light-hearted moment or two amidst the intensity of folding flags
just so and keeping in step and remembering commands. During the first run-through everyone was in
place around the casket. It was time for
the graveside ceremony to begin. The
instructor turned to me and said, “Chaplain, it’s all yours.” I waited silently for about a three count,
just long enough for him to walk solemnly away from the casket, step down onto
the pathway, and turn to face me again.
Then I said, “Amen,” and nodded back to him. He was surprised, and it took him a second or
two to realize that “the service” was over, but he recovered quickly. He returned to the casket area and called the
trainees to begin removing the flag, folding it, and making the presentation to
the family. Finally the instructor
re-entered his funeral role and made his final mock announcement along the
lines of, “The family thanks you for coming and there will be a reception over
at the Elk’s Lodge.” One the second
run-through, he exited the staging area with, “It’s all yours, Padre.” Well, since he changed his approach, I guess I
had to change as well. So this time I
said, “Get right with God now. It’ll
make things a lot easier then. Amen.” Apparently this time it was more than he expected. He actually laughed out loud before coming up
to make his concluding remarks to the crowd about the reception. I was going to interrupt him during his speech
this time. Had it all planned. “The Elk’s Lodge was currently involved in a
four alarm fire and there was a hostage situation at the high school next
door. All personnel were being called in
immediately. No exceptions.” He was too quick for me, though. Also, it was getting hot. I knew the students were ready for a water
break at least.
Today
is the graduation ceremony. I’m going in
for that as well. I think I’m doing the
invocation and benediction. Honor Guard
Academy. Fire fighters and police
officers, put it on your bucket list to attend and take the information back to
your departments. Well worth the effort. And special kudos once again to Galveston
Honor Guard liaisons Nathan Vaughan and Dustin Burnett. Well done.
Titus
3:4-7 says, “But when the kindness and
love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things
we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of
rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously
through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Father,
walk with these men and women as they return to their departments and
shifts. Keep them and their brothers and
sisters safe. Amen.
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