Passing of Retired Downers Grove member Michael Baldwin

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Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of retired Firefighter/Paramedic Michael R. “Mike” Baldwin of Downers Grove, Local 3234. Brother Baldwin retired about two months ago to become a pediatric nurse. He passed away Saturday, January 22nd. Brother Baldwin was 39 years old and was previously an active member of the AFFI Honor Guard. He leaves behind a wife and four children.

Although this is NOT an activation, Brother Baldwin’s family and Local have requested Honor Guard attendance at his services. His services are as follows:

Wake: Thursday, January 27th from 1500hrs to 2100hrs at Malone Funeral Home- 324 E. State St., Geneva, IL 60134. There will be a Fire Department walk through at 1830hrs. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 1800hrs. There is limited room inside the funeral home so please plan on remaining outside except for the walk through (forecast calls for a low of 7o Thursday). Local 3234 may be looking for assistance with Casket Guard. More information will follow if they need support.

Funeral Service: Friday, January 28th at 1100hrs at Chapelstreet Church- 3435 Keslinger Rd., Geneva, IL 60134. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 1000hrs.

Please do what you can to attend and honor Brother Baldwin, his family, and his Local. Please make sure you have a plain black mask. I don’t know if there will be restrictions in place, but everyone should be prepared. Please bring tools and Local flags Friday for the services.

Fraternally

Jay Coburn, Commander
AFFI Honor Guard

LODD – MaShawn Plummer, Chicago Local 2

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LODD – Garrett Ramos, Sterling Local 2301

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Passing of Naperville member Alexander Gard

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Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Firefighter/Paramedic Alexander Gard of Naperville, Local 4302. Brother Gard passed away October 30th in a vehicle accident.

Although this is NOT an activation, Naperville and Brother Gard’s family are asking for Honor Guard attendance at his services. His services are as follows:

Mass: Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 1000hrs. There will be a fire department walk through only. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 0900hrs- Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Julian Eymard location, 601 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Please do what you can to attend and show Brother Gard, his family, and his Local your respect.

Fraternally,
Jay Coburn, Commander
AFFI Honor Guard
(708) 927-6568
[email protected]
affi1935.org/honorguard

 

Passing of Des Plaines member Tom Bauer

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Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great sadness I inform you of the passing of Firefighter/Paramedic Tom Bauer of the Des Plaines Fire Department.

Although this is NOT an activation, Des Plaines is asking for Honor Guard attendance at FF/PM Bauer’s services. His services are as follows:

Wake: Thursday, October 28th, 1300hrs-2000hrs at Oehler Funeral Home- 2099 Miner St., Des Plaines, IL 60016. There will be a fire department walk through at 1900hrs. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 1830hrs.

Wake/Service: Friday, October 29th, 0900-1000hrs with a service at 1000hrs at Oehler Funeral Home- 2099 Miner St., Des Plaines, IL 60016.

Procession: Immediately following the service, to Memory Gardens Cemetery- 2501 East Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Graveside service upon arrival.

Please do what you can to attend and show FF/PM Bauer, his family, and his department your respect.

Jay Coburn, Commander
AFFI Honor Guard
(708) 927-6568
[email protected]
affi1935.org/honorguard

Passing of Geneva Battalion Chief Gavin Hayes

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Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great sadness I inform you of the passing of Battalion Chief Gavin Hayes of the Geneva Fire Department. B/C Hayes was a charter member of Local 4287, and previously served on their Executive Board.

Although this is NOT an activation, Geneva is asking for Honor Guard attendance at B/C Hayes’ services. His services are as follows:

Wake: Friday October 22, 1500hrs-2000hrs at Chapelstreet Church- 3435 Keslinger Road, Geneva IL 60134. There will be a fire department walk through at 1900hrs. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 1830hrs.

Service: Saturday October 23, 1200hrs at Chapelstreet Church- 3435 Keslinger Road, Geneva IL 60134.

Fire Department Honor Procession: Immediately following the service, to Oak Hill Cemetery-  799 N Bennett St., Geneva, IL 60134. Please contact the Geneva Fire Department if fire service apparatus will be participating in the procession.

Any questions should be directed to B/C Rod Johnson at Geneva Fire, (224) 760-9535.

Please do what you can to attend and show B/C Hayes, his family, and his department your respect.

Fraternally,

Jay Coburn, Commander
AFFI Honor Guard
(708) 927-6568
[email protected]
affi1935.org/honorguard

 

Passing of Chicago L2 Member Pickering

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Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the Line of Duty Death of Brother Michael R. Pickering of Chicago, Local 2.

The AFFI Honor Guard has been activated by order of President Chuck Sullivan.

Brother Pickering was 45 years old and passed away October 8, 2021 after contracting COVID-19.

His Services are as follows:

VISITATION: Friday, October 15, 2021 from 1500-2000hrs at Hann Funeral Home- 8230 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview, IL 60455. There will be a Firefighter Walk-Through at 1900hrs. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 1800hrs.

SERVICE: Saturday, October 16th, 2021 at 1000hrs at Hann Funeral Home- 8230 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview, IL 60455. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 0900hrs.

INTERMENT: Saturday, October 16th, 2021 immediately following the services, at Resurrection Cemetery- 7200 Archer Rd., Justice, IL 60458.

Please bring tools and Local flags to use as requested and please make sure you have a plain black mask for all services.

I know, like always, you will all do Whatever it Takes to Honor, Cherish, Remember, and Salute Brother Pickering, his family, and his Local.

Fraternally,

Jay Coburn, Commander
AFFI Honor Guard
(708) 927-6568
[email protected]
affi1935.org/honorguard

Passing of LaGrange L2338 Member

Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Brother Adam VanEvery of LaGrange, Local 2338 and formerly with Blue Island Local 3547. Brother VanEvery passed away 5/19/21. He was 37 years old.

Although this is NOT an activation, Brother VanEvery’s Local and family would like Honor Guard members to participate in his services.

His services are as follows:

VISITATION: Sunday, May 23rd, 1200-1900hrs at Hallowell and James Funeral Home- 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, IL 60525.

There will be a Firefighter Walk-Through at 1800hrs. Honor Guard members should arrive no later than 1730hrs.

LaGrange is also looking for help with Casket Guard for the duration of the visitation.

All other services will be private.

Any questions should be directed to 5th District Commander Jeff Boetto 815-483-6097

Please do what you can to attend and Honor Brother VanEvery, his family, and the LaGrange and Blue Island locals.

Fraternally,
Jay Coburn

Honor Guard Training Update

Brothers and Sisters,

 

I’m happy to tell you that we are now able to resume in-person District trainings. COVID cases in Illinois are trending in a positive direction. Mitigation restrictions are being eased. And, many of our members have been vaccinated. All these circumstances contributed to the decision to re-open.

 

We will be following the Pandemic Event Plan created by the AFFI’s COVID Committee as we resume. Please read what is outlined below carefully. We need to follow these procedures to continue our training and do our part to keep our members healthy and working.

 

  1. If you are sick, or have been exposed to someone who is, without appropriate PPE, DO NOT COME TO TRAINING. If you are there, you are certifying that you are symptom free. This self-screening is the first line of defense. Please realize that each venue where we train may have their own screening procedures in place. These procedures MUST be followed in addition to your self-screening prior to coming to drill.
  2. Masks shall be worn at all times during training.
  3. If training is classroom based, the District Commander, or his designee, shall develop a seating chart. Attendees shall remain in the same seat throughout the drill.  If we have a large turn-out for a training and attendees are split into groups, everyone shall remain with the same group throughout the training. The District Commander, or his designee, shall make note of who is in each group. This may be done by creating a list, or by using separate Training Sign-In sheets for each group. These steps will help us with contact tracing if we do have a positive test following a drill.
  4. A new Training Sign-In sheet has been created that contains a spot for attendees to include their phone number. This is strictly to assist with contact tracing if we have a positive test. Your phone number will not be used for any other reason.
  5. If someone tests positive after a training, that member shall notify the State Commander. Likewise, if the host Local learns of a positive test of anyone in the training venue, they shall notify the State Commander. (This includes our members, facility staff, visitors, etc…)
  6. The State Commander shall notify the AFFI office, the affected Deputy State Commander, and District Commander. The member’s name shall NOT be released unless that member consents.
  7. The affected Deputy State Commander and District Commander shall personally notify EVERY member who was in attendance. Using the seating chart, or group list, the Commanders shall indicate the proximity of members to the individual who tested positive.
  8. Exposed members shall follow their individual department’s protocol upon notification of the positive test.

 

I know this seems like a lot. This is what we need to do to be able to train. Our main goals here are to keep our members at work, and to minimize any negative impact to the Guard, our members, and the AFFI.

 

I hope the last year’s events have shown everyone the need to get your required trainings completed as early as possible. At this point, we have a little over eight months left during our training year, as long as we don’t go backward again. You never know where we’ll be in a few weeks. Please get out and get trained!

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or any member of the Command Staff.

 

Stay healthy, and let’s hope that we continue to move in a positive direction. Not just here in Illinois, but throughout the country and the world.

 

Fraternally,

Jay Coburn, Commander

AFFI Honor Guard

(708) 927-6568

[email protected]

www.affi-iaff.org/honorguard