The tragic death of CoxHealth Security officer Monte Ruby last year prompted an outpouring of support for the department and Ruby’s family. The same thing happened when former Cox Security officer, Greene County Deputy Sheriff Gary McCormack was killed in a traffic accident in 2007.
Now, the Cox Security department wants to give back.
Staff members have formed the CoxHealth Honor Guard which made its debut at the April department head meeting.
“Our goal is to make employees proud and to thank them for donating their time and financial support to help the families of our employees who lost their lives,” says Security director Joe Rushing. “We had to figure out somehow to pay them back.”
Rushing says the Security officers volunteered their time to learn how to perform the precision movements and to how to properly wear the elaborate uniforms required of an honor guard regiment.
The guard will be available to represent CoxHealth as casket guards and casket bearers at the funeral of any board member or administrator who should pass away. To request the guard’s services, families should contact the Security department or Human Resources department.
The honor guard will serve as casket bearers for any CoxHealth employee who passes away as well. Rushing says the honor guard will also represent CoxHealth at the funeral or memorial service for any state dignitary.
The CoxHealth unit is one of only a few fully-dressed honor guards in Springfield. The group will be available to provide a full military funeral service with a flag folding ceremony and 21-gun salute for any law enforcement agency that loses an officer. The honor guard of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department served as casket guard at Officer Ruby’s funeral.
“Now we are able to help other law enforcement agencies who don’t have an honor guard,” says Rushing. “It’s all about giving back.”
The CoxHealth Honor Guard’s first official duty will be participating in the nationwide observance May 8 to honor of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2008. A special memorial service will be held in Springfield at the Grace Assembly Church at 9:30 a.m. The names of fallen officers, including Officer Ruby’s, will be read aloud.
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