The Grapevine Police Department hosted a forty-hour basic Honor Guard training school February 13th-17th at The REC at Grapevine.  Eight members from the Grapevine Police Honor Guard Unit as well as eight members from the Grapevine Fire Department Honor Guard Unit attended the training, along with Honor Guard personnel from Roanoke Fire Department, Hurst Police Department, Bedford Police Department, North Richland Hills Police Department, and Tarrant County Sheriff Office.  

Honor Guards are often called upon to perform under tremendous adversity, and provide one of the most visible and positive images for their department.  Be it a parade, ground breaking, sporting event or funeral, the presence alone of the Honor Guard immediately draws attention and raises the formality of the event.

The focus of the basic Honor Guard School was to develop the tools and skills utilized in all facets of Honor Guard missions, for rendering the proper honors afforded Police Officers, Firefighters, Military Veterans, and our National Color.  Attendees underwent five intense days of training in the areas of marching, manual of arms, funeral details, honor guard programs, firing volleys, flag etiquette and flag folding.  The training culminated in a mock funeral - where all the skills developed during the week were utilized to perform a full honor funeral.

We offer a very heartfelt thank you to Deanna Williams, the surviving spouse of fallen Waxahachie Police Department Officer Joshua Williams, who attended the mock funeral and offered support during training. We also appreciate special assistance from Fellowship Church,  J.E. Faust & Son Funeral Home, Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, and Lucas Funeral Home.