Oakfield Fire Department Honor Guard to train with Marine Corps at Arlington National Cemetery next week
Submitted photos of the Oakfield Fire Department Honor Guard and press release:
The Oakfield Fire Department Honor Guard is pleased to announce that it has received a very rare invitation to participate in honors training with the Marine Corps Honor Guard detail at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, Aug. 17, through Saturday, Aug. 20.
The OFD Honor Guard was formed and has been training since the fall of 2015, with the purpose of providing funeral honors to local firefighters, who may in the future, die in the line of duty.
“A locally based fire department honor guard has been a passion of mine for many years,” said 2nd Assistant and Past Chief Randy McIntire.
Chief McIntire is a local funeral director and partner in H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home and Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home and brings knowledge of the funeral process to the team.
“My son, Lt. Jeffery McIntire and Chief Sean Downing, share my passion, and we have worked to bring the concept of the Honor Guard to a reality,” McIntire said.
The Oakfield Fire Department sponsored Honor Guard consists of both of the McIntires, 3rd Assistant and Past Chief Sean Downing, firefighters, Casey Arnold, Tyler Hamm and Nate Klos. These men are all members of the Oakfield Fire Department.
“As a 12-year Marine Corps veteran, I was able to make some inquiries to the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington. D.C. Those contacts moved along the chain of command and the result was an invitation to train with the Marine Honors Detail,” Lt. McIntire said.
The OFD Honor Guard will receive specialized training in precision maneuvering, military bearing and burial traditions as well as Color Guard procedures and practices.
Our invitation was offered by General Robert B. Neller, Commandant of the Marine Corps and his staff. He has provided us with unprecedented access to those Marines who have dedicated themselves to providing honor and dignity to their fallen comrades.
The Honor Guard will return from Arlington National Cemetery with very unique training that will assist them in honoring our local firefighters should the need arise.
