Honor Guard Carries Tradition of Remembering Fallen Heroes
By: Robert Lowrey
Updated: March 14, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) A bell rings as the striking of the four fives begins.
It's a symbol that a fire fighter is returning to quarters.
The ringing of the bell is tradition when a fire fighter loses his life.
"It goes back to when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated," said Chuck Beaty, an Honor Guard member. "They did a bell ceremony."
It is a tradition fire fighters will volunteer to take on across the country.
They are part of the Honor Guard paying final respects to a fallen comrade.
"It's an honor to do this," said Beaty. "One of our chief's had told me that. I can't think of a better way to put it."
Dressed in uniform, the Honor Guard pays their respects to the person who has lost their life.
They pay utmost respect to the family who now know the true cost of service.
In some cases, members will stand by a casket 24/7 until the burial.
Only a salute removes them from duty.
"It's very difficult," said Beaty. "We've been to St. Louis several times. A couple of fire fighters were murdered in the line of duty. It's very tough."
The St. Joseph Honor Guard has been part of more than 60 funeral across Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska since 2002.
A black stripe covers the badge signifying the loss of one of their own.
But after a tragic loss of life, the people serving know they are honoring a fallen hero.
"There's a lot of pride," said Beaty. "We represent our department, our union. We represent our city. People are looking at us. They know where we're from."
It's a symbol that a fire fighter is returning to quarters.
The ringing of the bell is tradition when a fire fighter loses his life.
"It goes back to when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated," said Chuck Beaty, an Honor Guard member. "They did a bell ceremony."
It is a tradition fire fighters will volunteer to take on across the country.
They are part of the Honor Guard paying final respects to a fallen comrade.
"It's an honor to do this," said Beaty. "One of our chief's had told me that. I can't think of a better way to put it."
Dressed in uniform, the Honor Guard pays their respects to the person who has lost their life.
They pay utmost respect to the family who now know the true cost of service.
In some cases, members will stand by a casket 24/7 until the burial.
Only a salute removes them from duty.
"It's very difficult," said Beaty. "We've been to St. Louis several times. A couple of fire fighters were murdered in the line of duty. It's very tough."
The St. Joseph Honor Guard has been part of more than 60 funeral across Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska since 2002.
A black stripe covers the badge signifying the loss of one of their own.
But after a tragic loss of life, the people serving know they are honoring a fallen hero.
"There's a lot of pride," said Beaty. "We represent our department, our union. We represent our city. People are looking at us. They know where we're from."
