North Metro Fire’s honor guard is a 15-member team comprised of individuals specially trained to provide honors for fallen first responders and to present the National Colors as part of ceremonies and community events.
All new honor guard members attend the Colorado Professional Firefighters (CPFF) Honor Guard Academy to learn how to perform the ceremonial honors. In 2023, North Metro Fire is hosting the Honor Guard Academy at the District’s Training Center, with 50 students attending from area police and fire departments.
Annually, North Metro Fire’s Honor Guard participates in the Colorado Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Lakewood in April. In 2022, Colorado honored fallen North Metro Firefighter Craig Moilanen and added this name to the memorial wall. North Metro Fire also participates in the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs each September.
North Metro Fire’s honor guard often works alongside Broomfield Police’s honor guard to support community events, such as the Broomfield Days parade, Flag Retirement Ceremony and Memorial Day Picnic with the Veterans Museum, 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and Wreaths Across America.
On top of those, the team is always ready to assemble on short notice to provide honors for line of duty deaths for fire and law enforcement. This can include casket watch (24-hour guard) from the time of the member’s death to the member’s internment, as well as ceremonial duties such as flag detail, thin red/blue line, cordon, and family escort/liaison—any duties to carry the family of the deceased through their time in need.
