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About Us
The City of Beloit Firefighters
Honor Guard is comprised of sixteen dedicated individuals
whom completely volunteer their time for service at active
and retiree firefighter funerals, parade activities, Military
Veteran functions, memorial services, along with a host of
civic and community events. It is the dedication and pride
of its membership which makes this- the professional organization
it has become.
All training, uniforms, and
equipment for use at these functions are purchased and maintained
through fundraising activities, donations, or purchased by
Honor Guard members.
The future will find the City
of Beloit Firefighters Honor Guard continuing to serve area
fire departments and the Stateline Area with duty, pride,
and tradition.
These achievements were realized
as a result of the Honor Guard's dedicated membership however,
these successes are also as a result of the support provided
by City Manager Arft, Council Members, and the Beloit Community.
The Honor Guard was formed
in 2006 and the guard began training, serving at funerals
and functions in regular Class-A firefighter uniforms with
special assignment ribbon and a braided cord as the only guard
designation.
In the beginning we didn't
know what we didn't know, to coin a phrase. We sent members
to the Elmhurst, IL. Honor Guard training school and sought
held from other honor guards to bring our members up to speed.
Brent Jones (Milwaukee FD HG) helped with funeral training
in our early days and we remain thankful that he was there
for us.
In 2007 and 2008 the guard
held fundraisers and members used personal funds to purchase
the high-collar, red trimmed blouse coats with high gloss
leather waist belts that you see the guard wearing now. This
was, in part, to further designate our highly trained members
as part of the Beloit Firefighters Honor Guard.
In 2009 the guard became a
501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization for tax purposes.
The honor guard does not use general city funds, fire department
funds or any tax money to operate. Beloit Firefighters Union
(IAFF Local 583) helped offset some of our early training
costs and continues to this day to support the Honor Guard.
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