UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Two Union Township firefighters have completed a weeklong national training program that prepares them to represent the department’s honor guard at funerals, parades and other formal ceremonies.
Lt. Craig Forster and Firefighter/Paramedic Jon Milligan graduated Friday from the National Honor Guard Academy, the department said in a Facebook post.
The course covered basic drill and ceremonial movements, church and casket protocol, flag etiquette and honor guard commander leadership training, according to the department.
The National Honor Guard Academy trains firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel from across the country in the traditions and protocols used to represent their agencies at funerals and public ceremonies, with particular emphasis on honoring personnel killed in the line of duty. The academy was founded by fire service honor guard members who said they wanted to raise the professionalism and presentation of emergency service honor guard units, and it now travels nationally to train departments.
Union Township Fire Department traces its roots to two volunteer departments — the Withamsville Fire Department, organized in 1942, and the North Union Fire Department, organized in 1956 — that merged in 1990 to form the current department under the township’s board of trustees. The department has since grown to operate multiple stations across the township and provides fire and EMS coverage to a population of tens of thousands of residents, along with a service agreement with the village of Amelia.
The information contained in this story was obtained from Union Township Fire Department.