This past week, the Anne Arundel County Fire and Police Department, in cooperation with The National Honor Guard Academy, put together a week-long training program for Emergency Services Honor Guard Members that began last Sunday, October 8, 2023. More than 60 Honor Guard Members from over 20 different Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS Agencies around the Nation have come to AA County to sharpen their skills to provide a fallen comrade the ultimate farewell.
We welcome you to observe the skills gained throughout the week tomorrow, Thursday, October 12, 2023 (see details for location below), and to the graduation ceremony on Friday, October 13, 2023, at Lighthouse Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland, @ 1:00 p.m.
This full-week course is expressly designed to teach fire service, law enforcement, and public safety organizations how to develop and enhance their organization's honor and color guard unit skills. Because of the varied organizational policies and procedures, this venue is intended to offer a one-of-a-kind national forum and unique training environment that will provide basic guidance for the standardization of training methods, instruction in proper drilling movement, proper techniques, leadership enhancement, and team confidence building.
The focus of the week-long training deals with managing the traditions, protocols, and planning to be utilized should an agency suffer an unfortunate line-of-duty death of one of its personnel. The curriculum is designed to cover all aspects of honor guard team development and functions including basic drill and ceremony, church and casket protocols, flag etiquette, history and traditions, as well as overall funeral planning. The instruction culminates with the students planning and executing a complete mock funeral to be held at a local funeral home and cemetery.
The National Honor Guard Academy was established in 2006 to develop and elevate the ceremonial knowledge of public safety honor guards. Focusing on the founding principles of honor, dignity, and respect, the National Honor Guard Academy Staff share a passion for the traditions of emergency service and patriotic pride.
Thursday, October 12, 2023 - Demonstration of Skills
8:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Lighthouse Church: 6691 Baymeadow Drive, Suite 200, Glen Burnie, MD 21060
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Maryland Veterans Cemetary: 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD 21032
Friday, October 13, 2023 - Graduation Ceremony
1:00 p.m. @ Lighthouse Church: 6691 Baymeadow Drive, Suite 200,
Glen Burnie, MD