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Serving with Honor
Date: April 28, 2008
Be it pledged as an Emergency Medical Technician, I will honor the physical and judicial laws of God and man. I will follow that regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, nor shall I suggest any such counsel. Into whatever home I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of only the sick and injured, never revealing what I see or hear in the lives of men.
I shall also share my medical knowledge with those who may benefit from what I have learned. I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to help make a better world for all mankind.
While I continue to keep this oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life, and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times. Should I trespass or violate this oath, may the reverse be my lot. So help me God.
- EMT Oath
Dressed in crisp blue dress uniforms and walking in unison, the Honor Guard authoritatively presents the American flag, commanding the attention of those watching and stirring in the crowd a sense of patriotism and respect. These men and women serve not as an assignment or a requirement, but from a deep-seated desire to serve.
Don Taylor, a 30-year employee at Floyd, is Honor Guard Captain for Floyd Emergency Medical Services, and the existence of the guard is largely due to his dedication and perseverance.
The first notion of an EMS Honor Guard was born from a desire to honor one of their own. When Stanley Payne, Floyd’s long-time EMS director, died in 2004, his co-workers wanted to commemorate his life of service. In the four years since Stanley’s passing, Don has succeeded in coordinating a trained EMS Honor Guard that has marched in parades, presented colors at September 11, Memorial Day and Independence Day events, and attended at funerals of public safety colleagues.
Training for Honor Guards involves 20 hours of coursework over three days and regular practice leading up to and the day of an event.
“For a flag detail you actually need to start planning at least a week in advance,” Don said. “Plus, you have to be there about two hours before the event, to see the layout of the venue and to walk through it a couple of times. We probably put in five or six hours of work for a 10 minute detail.”Now, the seven-member Floyd EMS Honor Guard is regularly called to duty. Next up is a posting for the National Tree of Life EMS Memorial Service Memorial Day weekend.
These men and women take their commitment to service as an extension of the oath to which they have pledged.
“Firemen and police have their own guards to honor their fallen comrades. EMS is the third arm of public safety. Our fallen comrades deserve the same respect,” said Don, whose vision extends beyond the Floyd guard’s current detail. “I would like to take it up a notch and make ourselves available to American Legions, VFWs and military bases around here. We would like to make ourselves available to step in and help them out.”
In fact, Don is so committed to his colleagues that, at a time when many of his friends are looking to retire to the links, he is learning to play the bugle.
“I’m not very musical, but if I can learn to play one tune on the bugle, I would be happy,” Don said. He’s encouraging another member of Floyd’s Honor Guard to learn the bagpipes.
“Amazing Grace on bagpipes and Taps on bugle will send chills down anybody's spine,” he said. “If we can get bagpipes and bugle, we can take care of any detail needed.”
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