North Shore Professional Firefighters Honor Guard Local 1440
Founded in the Spring of 2001, the North Shore Professional Firefighters Honor Guard Local 1440 consists of 23 men and women from the North Shore Fire Department who train in the presentation of colors, drill and ceremony. On July 9, 2001, at the funeral of North Shore HEO Ben DeStefanis, the Honor Guard posted at the casket and served as pallbearers. In 2004, the North Shore Fire Department lost two of its members, Firefighter John Harrington and Paid-on-Call Kirby Vick. The Honor Guard took part in their funerals and will continue to take part in the presentation of flags at memorial services and to post at funerals for current and former fire department members.
The Honor Guard, funded by Local 1440, is part of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin State Honor Guard. Becoming a member of the Honor Guard is voluntary. There is a President, Secretary/Treasurer, Sargeant of Arms and a Captain. The Captain is not an elected position; this is the person who calls out the orders. The Honor Guard meets once a month, during which time they train in marching and posting colors. Bonnie McFarlane, one of our paramedic firefighters, plays the bagpipes at ceremonies and parades.
 |
The Honor Guard is steeped in tradition and our members are proud to carry on tradition. For instance, after a funeral, a flask is passed around for each Honor Guard member to drink a toast in memory of our lost firefighter. Each firefighter's name, date of death and local number are engraved on the flask. Sadly, the front of our Honor Guard's flask is completely engraved and there are some names on the back. |
The Flag of the United States of America
Rules of Diplay
It is the universal custom to display the Flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, the Flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. It should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather Flag is used.The Flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
The Flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution; in or near every polling place on election days; and, during schooldays, in or near every schoolhouse.
When carried in a procession with another flag or flags, the Flag of the United States of America should be either on the marching right or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the Flag, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the Flag during church services for Navy personnel.
When displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the Flag of the United States of America should be on the Flag’s own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
When a number of flags of State or localities or pennants of societies are displayed from staffs, the Flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the h9ightest point of the group. When flags of states, cities, and localities, or pennants from societies are flown on the same halyard with the Flag of the United States of America, the Flag should always be at the peak. When flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the Flag should be hoisted first and lowered last.
When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
When used on a speaker’s platform, the Flag should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the Flag should be in the position of honor at the clergyman’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. Any other flag should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker.
When flown at half-staff, the Flag should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. Before it is lowered for the day, the Flag should again be raised to the peak. On Memorial Day, the Flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon, and then raised to the top of the staff.
When the Flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The Flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
Respecting the Flag
So that no disrespect should be shown to the Flag, it should not be dipped to any person or thin. Regimental flags, State flags and organization or institution flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
The Flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
The Flag should never touch anything beneath it; i.e. the ground, the floor, water. It should never be carried flat or horizontally but always aloft and free. It should never be used a wearing apparel, bedding or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform and for decoration in general.
No part of the Flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firepersons, policepersons, and members of patriotic organizations. The Flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thin. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
Care of the Flag
Clean your flag regularly. Outdoor flags can be hand-washed with warm water and a mild soap, then rinsed and laid flat to dry. Professional dry cleaning is recommended for indoor flags.
When it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, the Flag should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
(Public Law 94-344, 94 th Congress)
Copyright © 2005 North Shore Fire Department, All Rights Reserved
