Honor Guard

History

The Turlock Fire Department Honor Guard was formed in 2013 with 6 members under the direction of Fire Chief Tim Lohman (retired). Today, we have a total of 8 members that represent the Turlock Fire Department Honor Guard, which includes our Bag Piper. Our goal is to represent all members of the Fire Department in the highest degree of professionalism, dedication, loyalty, honor and dignity. Countless hours of training and time is sacrificed by each member of the Honor Guard.

Events

The Honor Guard represents the Turlock Fire Department at academy graduation ceremonies, promotion ceremonies, station/engine dedications, funerals, retirements, and other various events held in the City of Turlock and in the State of California. We represent the members of the Fire Department, past and present, in life and death. The Honor Guard participates in approximately 15 events annually, including the California Firefighter’s Memorial in Sacramento. To date, the Honor Guard has participated in more than 90 events.

Members

We are the Turlock Fire Department Honor Guard: (Commander) Captain Steve Kramer, Captain Eric Boyd, Captain Larry Mouw, Captain Jeff Hernandez, Captain Diego Mortera, Engineer Zach Copland, Firefighter Kurt Seeberger, and Bag Piper Randy Francis (not pictured).

For Honor Guard inquires or information, please contact Commander Steve Kramer at (209) 345-6920 or by email at skramer@turlock.ca.us

Fireman’s Prayer

When I'm called to duty God wherever flames may rage
grant me the strength to save a life whatever be its age

Help me to embrace a little child before it is too late
or save an older person from the horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently put the fire out

I want to fill my calling Lord and give the best in me
to guard my every neighbor and protect his property

And if according to your will I am to lose my life
God bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife

LAST ALARM

THE MEN AND WOMEN OF TODAY’S FIRE SERVICE ARE CONFRONTED WITH A MORE DANGEROUS WORK ENVIRONMENT THAN EVER BEFORE. WE ARE FORCED TO CONTINUALLY CHANGE OUR STRATEGIES AND TACTICS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR TASKS.

OUR METHODS MAY CHANGE, BUT OUR GOALS REMAIN THE SAME AS THEY WERE IN THE PAST – TO SAVE LIVES, AND TO PROTECT PROPERTY, SOMETIMES AT A TERRIBLE COST. THIS IS WHAT WE DO, THIS IS OUR CHOSEN PROFESSION, THIS IS THE TRADITION OF THE FIREFIGHTER.

THE FIRE SERVICE OF TODAY IS EVER CHANGING, BUT IS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS 200 YEARS OLD. ONE SUCH TRADITION IS THE SOUNDING OF THE BELL.

IN THE PAST, AS FIREFIGHTERS BEGAN THEIR TOUR OF DUTY, IT WAS THE BELL THAT SIGNALED THE BEGINNING OF THAT DAY’S SHIFT. THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NIGHT, EACH ALARM WAS SOUNDED BY A BELL, WHICH SUMMONED THESE BRAVE SOULS TO FIGHT FIRES, AND PLACE THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.

AND WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT, AND THE ALARM HAD COME TO AN END, IT WAS THE BELL THAT SIGNALED THE COMPLETION OF THAT CALL. WHEN A FIREFIGHTER HAD DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, PAYING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, IT WAS THE MOURNFUL TOLL OF THE BELL THAT SOLEMNLY ANNOUNCED A COMRADE’S PASSING.

WE UTILIZE THESE TRADITIONS AS SYMBOLS, WHICH REFLECT HONOR, AND RESPECT ON THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH, AND WHO HAVE SERVED SO WELL. TO SYMBOLIZE THE DEVOTION THAT THESE BRAVE SOULS HAD FOR THEIR DUTY, A SPECIAL SIGNAL OF 3 RINGS, 3 TIMES EACH, REPRESENTS THE END OF OUR COMRADE’S DUTIES, AND THAT THEY WILL BE RETURNING TO QUARTERS.

AND NOW THEIR TASK ARE COMPLETE. THEIR DUTIES WELL DONE, THEY HAVE GIVEN THEIR BEST. FOR OUR FALLEN BROTHER, THEIR LAST ALARM. THEY ARE GOING HOME.