Minnesota Department of Corrections

 

Instruction:                103.2217WRML                    Title: Honor/Color Guard and Memory Guard

Issue Date:                 7/3/12

Effective Date:          7/17/12

 

AUTHORITY:           Division Directive 103.2217, “Honor/Color Guard and Memory Guard”

 

PURPOSE:    To establish procedures and consistent standards for Minnesota Correctional Facility Willow River-Moose Lake honor/color guard and or memory guard.

 

APPLICABILITY:    Minnesota Department of Corrections - Willow River-Moose Lake (WRML)

 

INSTRUCTION:       Staff must follow Division Directive 103.2217, “Honor/Color Guard and Memory Guard” and the facility specific procedures below.

 

DEFINITIONS:

Honor guard team leader – a member of the team designated by the coordinator to lead the honor guard.

 

PROCEDURES:

A.        Honor/color guard

1.         Coordinator:

a)         Selects team members;

b)         Ensures training is scheduled and maintained; and

c)         Orders and ensures equipment is maintained.

 

2.         Team leader:

a)         Leads the honor guard during ceremonies;

b)         Ensures honor guard standards are maintained;

c)         Inspects equipment and uniforms; and

d)         Is the department’s designee to present the display flag to the family.

 

3.         Team members:

a)         At a minimum, the honor/color guard team consists of five members and the coordinator.

b)         Are responsible for preparing and maintaining the Minnesota state flag to be placed into the display case.  The display case, complete with the Minnesota state flag, is presented to the former staff’s family.

c)         Serves as pallbearers (if requested).

d)         Folds and presents state flags at dedications, retirements, and funerals.

e)         Attends other department functions, when requested.

 

4.         Selection criteria:

a)         Applicants must meet the criteria listed in Division Directive 103.2217, “Honor/Color Guard and Memory Guard” Procedure B “selection criteria” and must be a corrections officer who has completed a minimum of one year of service with the department.

b)         Staff interested in being a part of the honor guard, must submit their interest to the honor guard coordinator and complete an oral interview process.  The coordinator sends the selections to the captain to receive final approval from the warden.

 

5.         Training - the team of officers are selected and trained as honor/color guard unit and are proficient in procedures and the protocol of the honor/color guard.

a)         All honor/color guard members are required to participate in a 24 hour initial training session.

b)         Training occurs semi-annually after the initial training has been complete.

c)         Training includes such examples as properly folding/ presenting the state flag, drill and ceremony.

 

B.        Memory guard: staff interested in being a part of the memory guard must submit a letter of interest to the honor guard coordinator and complete an oral interview process.  The coordinator sends the selections to the captain to receive final approval from the warden.

 

REVIEW:       Annually

 

REFERENCES:         None

 

SUPERSESSION:     All facility policies, memos, or other communications whether verbal, written, or transmitted by electronic means, regarding this topic.

 

ATTACHMENTS:    None

 

/s/

Warden, MCF-WR/ML