The Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard has been established to honor the fire service, the firefighters who have given their lives to this honorable calling and their families. Our desire is to see that the highest honor is paid to our fallen brothers and sisters as well as their individual families and their firefighting families.

This organization has also been established to bring about consistency in planning and the ceremonial activities related to fire department funeral services. The emotional impact at such a time can be overwhelming. To have a resource available to use as a guide is a great relief to those involved in the planning of such an event.

The activities of the Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard are being led by Commander James McLoughlin from the City of Hartford Fire Department. Commander McLoughlin has been a firefighter since 1981. He is a graduate of the National Fire & Public Safety Honor Guard Academy, the founder of the Hartford Fire Department Honor Guard Society, the National Honor Guard Commanders Association and has assisted in the planning and execution of numerous fire department wakes, funerals, and memorial services.

The organization is a part of the CT Local Assistance State Team (LAST), a DOJ initiative established to assist families with the benefits process and  getting through the tough times of grieving. Other support functions of the LAST team include the Chief to Chief Network, Chaplain support, peer support and awareness and survivor support.

The Statewide Honor Guard will provide resources and guidance to any department within the state affected by the death of a member. The planning team will identify and update resources available throughout the state. The team will break down an event into individual components so as not to leave anything out. The objective of the team is to assist a department throughout the planning stages with a pre-planned guide covering many options. This is a great help when you are also dealing with the emotions and disbelief that surrounds a sudden loss.

We also provide the training necessary to the affected department to ensure that their ceremonial activities are crisp and rehearsed. The focus is to have the department honor its own firefighter. The ceremonial teams would make sure the casket vigils for a wake are rehearsed and organized, color guards are lined up properly, flag folding detail is rehearsed again and again, as well as providing for a Sergeant-at-Arms at the funeral services. The cemetery service follows a generic format, which allows for individual family wishes to be honored. In the event that a department is just so overwhelmed with all of the activities, the ceremonial team would then offer to provide the services requested.

The Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard has the support of the Commission on Fire Prevention & Control, the Uniformed Professional Firefighters of Connecticut, and the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association. Anyone interested in joining our efforts is asked to contact the Honor Guard Commander at ct.honorguard@po.state.ct.us OR by phone 860-627-6363 x231 OR through regular mail: 34 Perimeter Rd. Windsor Locks, CT 06096