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The following events were attended or performed by the West Bloomfield Professional Firefighters Honor Guard to pay respect to our Nations Flag and the people who have lost their lives fearlessly defending our country and protecting the public.

Ceremonies, Presentations and Postings:

 - Michigan Professional Firefighters Union 6th District Meeting: Presentation of National Colors prior to Union Meeting; 2001

- 9/11 Memorial at Temple Israel: Presentation of National Colors prior to memorial in rememberance of the many lives lost during the events of September 11th 2001; 2002

- New York Fire Department 9/11 Memorial Day, New York City: Participated with other Honor Guards from across the U.S.A. and world in a memorial service dedicated to the events of September 11th 2001; 2002

- Great Lakes Burn Camp:  Participated with other Honor Guards in presentation of National Colors during opening ceremonies for the camps 10 year celebration; 2004

- Memorial Day Parade & Flag Raising, Keego Harbor & Sylvan Lake: Raise National Colors at Keego Harbor Veterans Memorial, then lead parade carrying National Colors, and Union Flag;  2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

- West Acres Sub Division 4th of July, West Bloomfield: Marching with National Colors while leading the Independance Day Parade; 2002

- Pine Lake Cemetary:  Rasing National Colors. 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

- West Bloomfield Town Hall: Raising of National Colors; 2004

- Station 9 Fire Safety Week Open House: Raising of National Colors; 2004

- Six members of the W.B.P.F.F.U. Honor Guard attend formal training in Goshen Indiana: Hosted by the Goshen Police Department Honor Guard; 2005.

- MDA Telethon Donation: Presented a check for all the money raised by the firefighters of Local 1721 to MDA during live T.V. broadcast; 2005

- Firefighters Park Dedication Keego Harbor: Presentation of National Colors; 2005

- Fire Station 5 Dedication: Raising of National colors in Apparatus Bay; 2005

- Off probation ceremony WBFD Sta.5:  Presentation of National Colors prior to Fire Department members recieving their badge and officially being taken off probation after 1 year of service; 2005

- Honor Guard attended Firefighters Memorial in Roscommon, MI; 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

- One member of Honor Guard sent to attend formal training by the Goshen Police Departmet Honor Guard: Goshen, IN; 2005

- Members of WBFD Honor Guard attended graduation from formal training of above mentioned Honor Guard member: Goshen, IN; 2005

- Fallen Heroes Memorial, Oakland County municipal offices property:  Attended unveiling of new memorial wall. Participated in annual ceremonies for public safety professionals from Michigan who have lost their lives; 2005. 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

- Special Honors for WBFD Fire Chief Poppelreiter, 40 years of service:  West Bloomfield Townhall.  Posted National Colors prior to ceremony for our Fire Chief; 2005

- Shop with a Firefighter event:  Shopping at Meijer with donated money and a pizza party with underprivileged kids and their families during December Holidays; 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

- Five members of the Honor Guard sent to formal training by the Goshen Police Department Honor Guard: Goshen, IN; 2006

- Members of the Honor Guard attended graduation from formal training of above mentioned members:  Goshen, IN; 2006

- Veterans Day: Raising of National Colors; 2006, 2007

- Green Elementary at Town Hall: Raising of National Colors prior to students dedicating a memorial tree; 2006

- Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony: Attended as names of fallen heroes were dedicated onto the memorial; 2006

- J.C.C. Local Heroes appreciation/ book fair & book signing ceremony:  Posted National Colors prior to guest speakers presenting at the book fair.  Jewish Community Center gathering room.  West Bloomfield; 2006

- West Bloomfield High school football games and band competitions: Presentation of National Colors prior to National Anthem being performed (multiple games and competitions); 2004, 2005, 2006

- Gus Macker Basketball Tournaments: Presentation of National Colors prior to National Anthem being performed.  Assisted by members of the West Bloomfield Police Department Honor Guard; 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

- Michigan Week Celebration / Flag Raising:  Presenting and raising of National Colors at West Bloomfield Town Hall and Veterans Memorial Rock in Keego Harbor followed by presentation from guest speakers; 2007

- Memorial Day flag raising ceremony at Pine Lake Cemetary:  Raising of National Colors at Pine Lake Cemetary in honor of our military pesonnel who are, or have served our country;  2007

- West Bloomfield Police & Firefighters Foundation Fundraiser at Marshbank Park:   Presentation of the National Colors during opening ceremonies for the fundraiser; 2006, 2007, 2008

- National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Emmitsburg Maryland:Three members from the Honor Guard participated with other Honor Guards and thousands of Firefighters from around the country to pay tribute and honor all the Firefighters that have lost their lives in the line of duty in 2006.  www.firehero.org ; 2007

- Newest member of the Honor Guard sent to Goshen Indiana for formal training with Goshen P.D. Honor Guard;2007

- West Bloomfileld Highschool Regional Band Competition: Presentation of National Colors prior to the beginning of the competition.  Assisted by W.B. Police Honor Guard; 2007

- West Bloomfield Township 175th Birthday:  Presentation of national colors along with the W.B. Police Honor Guard; 2008

- West Bloomfield Optimist Club Honors Breakfast: Presentation of national colors along with the W.B. Police Honor Guard; 2008

-9/11 Memorial Ceremony: Presentation of colors honoring those lost on 9/11/2001, participation with many police and fire honor guards; 2008

-Keego Harbor New City Hall Dedication: Presentation of colors; October,  2008

-Swearing In Ceremony for New Township Board: Presentation of colors, leading of pledge of allegiance. November 20, 2008

-Opening Ceremonies for the Southeastern Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs: Presentation of colors with Southfield and Farmington Hills Honor Guards. April 1, 2010 

W.B.F.D.  Retirement parties attended:

- Captain Don Richardson 2004.  (26 years of service)

- Captain Mike McClain 2005.   (27 years of service)

- Lieutenant Tim Morgan 2005.  (25 years of service)

- Fire Marshal Ted Gauthier 2006.  (28 years of service)

- Captain John Bigger 2006. (28 years of service)

- Captain Bruce Bay 2006.  (26 years of service)

- Lieutenant Charles Cassavoy 2006.  (29 years of service)

- Lieutenant Mike Pryor 2006.  (26 years of service)

- Sergeant Greg Johnson 2006.   (29 years of service)

- Lieutenant Tom Richey 2007   (29 years of service)

- Assistant Chief Ray Riggs 2009  (29 years of service)

- Captain Mike Flynn 2009  (29 years of service)

- Fire Chief James Poppelreiter 2010 (44 years of service)

May you all have a long, healthy and safe retirement.   

Funerals Attended / Participated in Honoring Fallen Firefighters & Police Officers:  

Together we Honor those who gave all   

  LODD = Line of Duty Death.

- Royal Oak, MI   Fire Marshal Larry Zimmerman 2003.    LODD

- Bloomfield Township, MI   Police Officer Gary Davis 2004.   LODD

- Detroit Fire Department, MI   Firefighter Stephen Uhl 2005.  

- Southfield, MI   Retired Lieutenant Jim McRoberts 2005.   

- Ann Arbor, MI   Firefighter Amy Pennywhitt 2006.    LODD

- South Bend, IN   Police Officer Scott Severns 2006.    LODD

- Windsor Police, Canada   Constable John Atkinson 2006.    LODD

- Detroit Fire Department, MI   Firefigher Joseph Torkos 2007.   LODD

- Camp LeJeune, NC  Firefighter Michael Henderson (of Commerce Twp.) 2007.   

- Tri-City Fire Department, MI   Retired Assistant Fire Chief John Kessel 2007.

- Ypsilanti Fire Department, MI  Firefighter Rick Lapensee 2007.

-Detroit Fire Department, MI Senior Firefighter Walter P. Harris 2008.   LODD

- Memorial service were attended for the following 9 Charleston SC, Firefighters that died in the line of duty on June 18th 2007.

  Fire Captain William Hutchinson 
  Fire Captain Mike Benke  
  Fire Captain Louis Mulkey
  Fire Engineer Mark Kelsey
  Fire Engineer Bradford Baity
  Fire Assistant Engineer Michael French
  Firefighter James Drayton
  Firefighter Brandon ThompsonFirefighter Melven Champaign  

                 http://www.charlestoncity.info/dept/content.aspx?nid=1378

"Here's to us and those like us..."