TVF&R Honor Guard

The TVF&R Honor Guard traces its roots back to the 1993 death of Beaverton Firefighter-Paramedic Phil Hall, who was killed in a motor vehicle crash while driving home from duty. Lacking an already-established honor guard, members managed to piece together an ad hoc detail to handle duties at the memorial service. Ironically, Capt. Dave Halley and Scott Brawner (then an AMR paramedic, now a TVF&R member), served as pallbearers at Phil’s service, and today remain active members of the honor guard.

Dave Halley kept the white gloves and badge covers used at the service and, over the years on-again, off-again discussions were held regarding the formation of an official honor guard. These discussions came to fruition in the late 1990s, when the TVF&R Honor Guard was officially formed under the direction of then-Battalion Chief Dennis Katz.

A 1999 contractual arrangement with Oregon City gave the honor guard a boost when members of the Oregon City Fire Department became TVF&R employees. A number of the Oregon City firefighters joined the honor guard, including Lt. Andrew McGladrey, who continues to serve and provide leadership even in his retirement.

Over the last several years, the unit has acquired distinctive uniforms and the various tools used to perform its official duties, such as flags and ceremonial axes. In 2006, the Honor Guard began participating in events outside the fire district. The unit has joined the Oregon State Fire Service Honor Guard at annual services at the Oregon Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Salem, and in 2006 members of the unit attended the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs as the name of TVF&R Engineer Gary Steele was placed on the memorial wall.

Now well-established as a ceremonial asset of the fire district, and fully staffed at its authorized strength of 12 members, the TVF&R Honor Guard serves as a living testament to the honor and tradition of the fire service.