Gonzales, LA – On Friday, October 30, seven members of the City of Gonzales Police Department’s Chief’s Own Honor Guard completed 40 hours of Drill Master Honor Guard Academy training. They included (from left in photo with Chief of Police Sherman Jackson) Detective Carey Cannon, Corporal Randy Clouatre Jr., Field Training Officer Walter Taylor, Motors Officer Jimmie Dunaway, Officer Joshua Dunaway, Officer Tyson Dennis and Officer Derek LeBlanc.
Chief of the City of Gonzales Police, Sherman Jackson, was on-hand as a mock funeral was created at Ourso Funeral Home to see the finished product that comes from the diligent training of the ceremonial guard.
“It was such an honor to see how the continuation of training benefits our Honor Guard members in performing their ceremonial duties,” said Chief Jackson. “Their formations were exemplary, and the respect shown on their faces, although only at a mock funeral, is a testament to how seriously they take this prestigious honor.”
The 40 hours of training included regulations and standards of standing, arms handling including rifle, pike pole and fire axe, how to correctly use the flagstaff, funeral honors, pall bearing, casket movement, flag fold, firing in salute and casket watch.
At the end of the ceremony, the casket was donated by Ourso Funeral Home to both the City of Gonzales Police Department and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office to be used for continued training.