By Kathy Chaffin
Salisbury Post
About 60 honor guard members from across North Carolina and neighboring states joined the Rowan County Fire & Rescue Association Honor Guard at the visitations and joint funeral for Justin Monroe and Victor Isler.
Ronnie Fulcher, commander of the Rowan honor guard, said at least 17 different departments were represented. The majority were from the Charlotte, Concord and Mooresville fire departments, he said, but honor guard members traveled from as far away as Sarasota County, Fla., to honor the fallen Salisbury firefighters.
“It was an honor and privilege to work with all the organizations that came to help,” Fulcher said. “I tried to personally thank every one of them who helped, and they all said it was their honor to be here.”
All 10 members of the Rowan honor guard ó which serves the county’s fire, rescue and Emergency Medical Service departments ó participated in Wednesday’s visitations and Thursday’s funeral.
In addition to Fulcher, members include Bobby Fox, chief of the Miller’s Ferry department and captain of the Salisbury department; Bobby Burleyson, captain of the South Salisbury department and engineer for the Salisbury department; Brad Jordan, of the Locke and Kannapolis departments; Chip Wells, of the Ellis Cross Country department; Doug Carter and Michael Spry, both of the Salisbury department; Rick Fleming, captain of the Salisbury department; Tamara Earnhardt, of the Rowan County EMS and former Salisbury firefighter; and Terry Moore, captain of the Granite Quarry department.
Funding for the Rowan honor guard comes from donations from the county’s fire departments.
Fulcher said the honor guard has also received several donations as memorials for individuals who have served in the fire or rescue services of Rowan County.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249 or kchaffin@salisburypost.com.