Houston Fire Department holds first Honor Guard graduation; announces academy, custom funeral coach and volunteer members

At a ceremony in Houston, the Houston Fire Department on an occasion described by speakers as the department's first-ever Honor Guard graduation recognized eight newly recruited members and announced operational changes and new programs for the unit.

The ceremony, led by Honor Guard Commander Oscar Pedraza, highlighted the unit's growth and role in funerals and public events, announced that the honor guard has been moved under the department's command staff, and said an Honor Guard Academy open to first responders nationwide will begin enrollment in June. Pedraza also presented a customized funeral coach that city and department officials described as the first of its kind in the nation and said plans are underway for a dedicated Honor Guard building.

Oscar Pedraza, Honor Guard commander for the Houston Fire Department, said the honor guard is a volunteer unit and described the personal commitment required: "This is a volunteer unit." He also emphasized the emotional and professional aspects of the work: "You can't teach emotion. You can't teach passion. And you cannot teach the professionalism that comes along with honoring a fallen member." Pedraza provided a brief history of the unit, tracing its…