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The Duplin County Fire Association Honor Guard was formed in October of 2003 to serve fire, rescue, and
EMS personnel and their families.
Purpose
The purpose of the Duplin County Fire Association Honor Guard is to show respect and special esteem to a
person or event, while keeping watch over them. Duplin County Fire Associaton Honor Guard is the most recent team that
has been added to the North Carolina State Fire Association's website list. While many paid departments across the state
have Honor Guards, this newly formed Honor Guard is a volunteer organization.
Other Information
These volunteers have worked very hard to establish their guidelines, code of ethics, and standard operating
procedures. They meet twice a month in three hour sessions to practice posting a casket, folding and presenting a flag,
serving as pallbearers, and other ceremony and memorial protocol. Each session is opened and closed with a prayer.
The patch was designed by the members of the Duplin County Fire Association Honor Guard. It features
a black background with "The Thin Red Line of Courage" to show respect for firefighters injured and killed in the line of
duty, a Christian cross, and several fire and rescue icons embedded within the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross, which
is the symbol of all fire departments, is a long standing representation of heroism and service whose history tells the story
of God's service to man and man's service to God.
Each member purchased his/her own t-shirt, BDU's, boots and belt to use as a practice uniform. Their
navy blue Class A dress uniforms, white hats, and white gloves that will be worn during formal use were purchased by the Duplin
County Firemen's Association.
Other Individuals have generously donated a North Carolina flag, an American flag, a brass
bell, and the use of a vehicle to transport the team.
The Honor Guard is available for ceremonies, building dedications, memorials, parades, and other special
occasions. They may also be called upon for funerals of any active or retired fire, rescue, or EMS personnel and their
immediate families. The Duplin County Fire Association Honor Guard will be serving within the county as well as travelling
to nearby counties which do not have an Honor Guard.
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