On November 11, 2021, at the end of the eleventh hour, Wilmington’s Veterans Day exercises came to a close. Led by the moan and skirl of the Great Highland Bagpipes, the colors of the Nation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Wilmington Police Department were marched from the Town Common. Having been presented in respect and admiration of our veterans, the colors were proudly carried off that morning by the Wilmington Police Honor Guard and the musical notes of the unit’s bagpiper. The Honor Guard is a group of dedicated officers tasked with representing the department and town across a variety of ceremonial and honor bound occasions. While the current guard is relatively new, having been founded in 2016, the concept and duty is as old as the department itself.
Today’s guard is actually the rebirth of a similar unit formed in 1987. That guard itself was in essence, a rebirth of similar formations of officers that date back to 1875. Many of the earlier organizational efforts, however, were those of part-time officers that were often centered around somewhat infrequent events. Presently however, the Wilmington Police Honor Guard is a unit of full-time officers that are available for deployment throughout the year. It is that unit that carries on the legacy of the department’s early officers.
In 2016, now retired police officers Eric Palmer and Paul Chalifour sought approval from then Chief of Police Michael Begonis to reform the Wilmington Police Honor Guard. Through attrition, the previous guard had been much depleted. Similarly, the uniforms and equipment were old and worn and in need of updating, restyling and replacement. As such, deploying to honor worthy events became nearly impossible. In response, the department’s officers were often relegated to attending such ceremonies attired only in their Class A uniform without either colors or rifle guards. Training and practice were nearly non-existent as well. However, in 2016 that all changed. Chief Begonis, after hearing Officer Palmer’s and Officer Chalifour’s ideas, was eager to have the Honor Guard reformed.
In homage to Wilmington Police Officers of the past, the new guard uniform found its basis in the department’s dress uniform of the 1940s. White shirts would be worn under a three-quarter length Navy blue blouse coat accompanied by Navy blue trousers. To break up the monochromatic appearance, French blue piping and accents were added. Duty gear featured the traditional Sam Browne cross strap rig rendered in black patent leather. The eight-point hat, a cover piece that dated back to the department of the 1920s, would top out the new appearance. For cold and inclement weather, a full-length black trench coat was authorized for wear. The shoulder patch would be a similarly retro-styled version too, reminiscent of the department patch of the 1950s. Custom made flags and flagstaffs were obtained as well as fully-functioning, M1903 Springfield rifles for officers acting in color guards or firing parties.
By late May 2016, the newly formed, outfitted and basically trained Wilmington Police Honor Guard prepared for its debut at the town’s Memorial Day Weekend ceremonies. Sadly, however, tragedy struck a few days before. On May 22, 2016, Officer Ronald Tarentino of the Auburn, Massachusetts Police Department was shot and Killed in the Line of Duty. Officer Tarentino was from the neighboring town of Tewksbury and was known by many in Wilmington. It was therefore, on the sad and solemn occasions of Officer Tarentino’s wake and funeral, that the newly reformed Wilmington Police Honor Guard was first deployed.
In the aftermath of Officer Tarentino’s loss, the guard returned to Wilmington and on May 30, 2016, the full complement of its officers took part Memorial Day services at Wildwood Cemetery. Throughout the remainder of that year the unit made itself well-known with several public appearances. The accompanying images are from the Honor Guard’s inaugural year and feature Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day ceremonies.
In the next installment of this series, the early years of the department’s honor duties will be presented.
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