Boise, July 2, 2009 - As our nation celebrates Independence Day, the Boise Police Honor Guard Quartet has been honored themselves with an invitation to sing our nation's National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" at the 194th annual Defender's Day Celebration at Fort McHenry, Maryland this September.
The author of the National Anthem, Francis Scott Key was inspired to pen the poem after witnessing the British bombard Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. Defender's Day celebrates the battle that inspired the poem that became the National Anthem.
"This is a huge honor for us to represent the people of Boise and be asked to sing our National Anthem at Fort McHenry," said Officer Jered Bish, a Boise Police patrol officer who sings in the quartet. "We sing the National Anthem all over the Boise area for a variety of events. But to sing the National Anthem at the site where it was inspired is an honor we never dreamed of it, and we're incredibly excited about."
The Boise Police Honor Guard were asked to Fort McHenry's celebration after the group sang in Washington, D.C. last year during National Police Week. The Honor Guard Quartet is made up of Boise Police Corporal Mike Riley, Officer Casey Hancuff, Officer Jered Bish, and Lt. Ron Winegar.
The Honor Guard is currently seeking community donations to help make the trip possible. The Boise Police Honor Guard is part of Boise PD PAL program, a 501 c3 non-profit organization. Any community donations are greatly appreciated! Those who would like to donate can send donations to:
Boise Police Honor Guard
333 N. Salfish Place
Boise, ID 83704
For more on the Bise Police Honor Guard and the Honor Guard quartet, log onto
www.boisepolice.org and follow the link off the main page. You can also click on a link and hear the quartet sing our National Anthem.
For more on Fort McHenry, log onto:
http://www.nps.gov/fomc/The Boise Police Department Honor Guard has been established to represent the Boise Police Department and the citizens of Boise at police funerals, parades and other ceremonial occasions. It is our intention to assist all officers and their families during their time of duress. We are dedicated to those who have served before us with great sacrifice and commitment to the safety and protection of the City of Boise.
The Honor Guard was formed in 2003 as a twelve-member unit and is recognized as the representative memorial unit of the Boise Police Department. The
Honor Guard portrays a uniform, professional image when representing the Police Department in an official capacity during public functions, and when honoring members of the Law Enforcement community and their families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The Honor Guard participates as a Color Guard in special retirement, and promotional ceremonies, as well as other community events by request. The Boise Police Honor Guard’s most important function is participating in ceremonies honoring our fallen comrades which can include a Casket Watch, acting as pallbearers, and presenting a fallen officers family with a folded flag. The Honor Guard works to help bring the humanism of Police work and the losses involved to the forefront of the communities’ attention. It is also committed to representing the Boise Police Department, the City of Boise, and the State of Idaho with pride and dedication.
The mission of the Honor Guard is to never forget those who have served.
The Boise Police Honor Guard Quartet.
In 2006 three singers from the unit, Corporal Mike Riley, Officer Casey Hancuff and Officer Jered Bish started singing "The Star Spangled Banner" at dozens of events across the state of Idaho. The group became a quartet with the addition of Lt. Ron Winegar in October 2008, and now features a richer, fuller sound in its performances. By performing completely a cappella with reverence, honor and military-like precision, the quartet's focus in singing "The Star Spangled Banner" is to awaken in the hearts of those who hear them a sense of patriotism and pride in America.