Published: May 21, 2009 12:24 pm      

Color guard forms just in time for Memorial Day

Sporting crisp, hours-old uniforms and holding billowing flags, the members of the Alliance of Laurel County Fire Departments’ new honor guard practiced into the dusk Monday. Using the lines built into the concrete as reference points, they rehearsed their routine, which will be performed for the first time on Memorial Day.

It’s something the new guard — made up of 10 men and two women — has been training for since the beginning of December, meeting each Monday night afterward for hours at a time. In turn, the group has mastered the art of marching in step, posting colors, handling the axes and positioning themselves in razor-sharp lines.

“It’s been great,” member Letch Day said. “I’ve been involved in fire fighting and EMS for about 20 years and we’ve never had an honor guard.”

Day said the guard is needed in the county to honor area first responders.

“Unless it’s a line-of-duty death, most honor guards will not travel to this area,” he said.

“There’s a need from time to time for a color guard in case there’s a funeral for emergency responders,” Alliance President Ronnie Bales added. “We’ll be available for that and for ball games and at the request of churches and other groups.”

The funds for the honor guard uniforms, which cost $700 a piece, were jointly supplied by the city and county. Members, who are all volunteer firefighters, are from Camp Ground, Keavy, Laurel County and London fire departments, though members from all departments were invited to participate. The group was trained by Joe Schenkenfelder and Eric Stallard, locals who both come from a law enforcement background.

Bales said he’s looking forward to Monday’s Memorial Day service.

“I want to showcase the honor guard and let them get rewarded for all their hard work,” he said.

Monday’s service will feature guest speakers Maj. Gen. Donald Storm and Ronnie Day, executive director for the state fire commission. Mayor Troy Rudder and Laurel County Judge-Executive Lawrence Kuhl will both attend. Magistrate Roy Crawford will make the invocation.

Laurel County’s Memorial Day service is at 10 a.m. Monday at the Laurel County Courthouse.

Keavy DAV Chapter 158 Honor Guard will honor fallen veterans at rest within Locust Grove Cemetery at 2 p.m. Sunday with a 21-gun salute and Taps, played on the bugle, along with members of the local Junior ROTC outfits.

Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.