SERVING WITH HONOR—Members of the Ashe County Honor Guard, which include individuals from Alleghany, recently paused for a picture during a practice at the Laurel Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured (front row from left) are Matthew Key, Matthew Brooks, Danny Brooks, Junior Vice Commander James Ellis and Steve Dixon; (second row) Charles Weaver, Joaquin Moreno, Tom Ham, Richard Kirretter, Don Mabe, Senior Vice Commander Everett Adams, Co-Chaplain Jim Church and Commander Tim Winters.

Local volunteers join Ashe honor guard

In recognition of late members of their squad, eight members of the Ashe County Rescue Squad came together in January 2007 to form an honor guard, according to Commander Tim Winters.

Shortly thereafter, Winters said the guard was opened to fire and police departments and the county's sheriff's office. It was then that Laurel Springs Volunteer Fire Department, which serves both Alleghany and Ashe County and is led by Chief Jim "Jimmy" Church, joined the honor guard.

Winters said, "They've had some deaths over here and they were in the same boat the rescue squad was. They had their own group, but they weren't able to always have enough to participate in a particular time. When you have funerals during the day, people have to work and I'm fortunate because I have time I can take off from my job. With Laurel Springs being involved, they can come to Ashe and help us and vice versa."

Duties

Winters briefly highlighted the duties of the honor guard, noting they were dependent on what is requested by the family.