Honor Guard

Evanston Fire Fighters Association Local 742 has been represented on the Honor Guard since 2003, and continues to add members who are dedicated to honoring our fallen comrades. The AFFI Honor Guard is activated upon the Line of Duty Death of any Illinois Union Fire Fighter at the families request. The Honor Guard is also present at the Illinois Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Ceremony, held each May in Springfield, IL. The AFFI Honor Guard is also the single largest State Honor Guard present at the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, held in Colorado Springs, Co each September. In addition, there are many parades and events that the Honor Guard has been invited to march in or post colors for, such as the AFL-CIO Convention, Opening Day at Wrigley Field one year, and many other events.

The Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Honor Guard is a unit comprised of Union Fire Fighters. To become a member of the Honor Guard, one must attend the Annual Honor Guard Convention. At the Convention, there is an Induction Ceremony for all new members. There is a three year commitment, and you must attend at least two of the four District training sessions each year. There will be a $40.00 new member fee to cover the cost of items given to new inductees. Once an active member, if you are unable to attend the Annual Convention, a $25.00 Membership Fee is required to maintain active membership for the year. If you are interested in becoming a member or just want more information about our organization, please contact the AFFI at (217) 522-8180. Membership is open to all AFFI members. Or, if you are a Local 742 Member, contact any of the 3 current members. The Honor Guard is comprised of 8 Districts, with the 8th being Pipers & Drummers which cover the entire State of Illinois. In order to become inducted into the 8th District, one must be a member of their Local's assigned District for one year minimum. Local 742 is a Member of the 5th District. Firefighter/Paramedic Jeffrey Boetto is a Drill Captain for the 5th District.

On January 30, 1993, Illinois union rank and file fire fighters from across the state came together in Springfield, and decided to try something new. Something that some would say could not be done, because it had never been done before. That was to organize a state wide Fire Fighter Honor Guard and as a line of duty death benefit, assist and guide in the conducting and performance of fallen fire fighter line of duty funeral services. We inducted our colors, the AFFI Flag and the AFFI Honor Guard Flag, presented honor guard rocker patches for the uniform and asked 68 fire fighters to uphold and maintain the traditions of the fire service.
Fourteen years later and with over five hundred members, the AFFI Honor Guard is the first and single largest Honor Guard of it's kind in the IAFF. Our members have participated in memorials from the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg, MD to the IAFF Monument in Colorado Springs, CO. We have attended services in Worcester, MA, Keokuk, IA, St. Louis, MO, and New York, NY. We have presented the colors at the IAFF Convention, the AFFI Biennial Conventions, the Illinois Fallen Fire Fighter and Medal of Honor Ceremonies. All this, without once neglecting our responsibilities to our fellow Illinois Fire Fighters who have been killed in the line of duty.
Jay E. Bishop
Founder of the AFFI Honor Guard
Springfield, Local 37

Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Hays, Captain/Paramedic Jeffrey Boetto,
Firefighter/Paramedic Justin Morrison, Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Peters (Not pictured)

2010 FF Joe Peters induction ceremony.
(Photos Courtesy of Stephen Bates Photography)

Members of the Evanston Fire Department Honor Guard, firefighter-paramedics Jeff Boetto and Jason Hays (right) toll the fire bell to remember the victims of 9-11. Eugene Koepke for Pioneer Press Sept. 13, 2007.

AFFI Honor Guard Members with 8th District Vice President Tom Miller and IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger
at the 2007 IAFF John P. Redmond Symposium at the Chicago Hilton.

International Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial: September 9th - 11th – Colorado Springs