THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION’S HONOR GUARD

THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION’S HONOR GUARD

Representing the Best Qualities of the Professional Correctional Officer to the Public

The Vermont Correctional Officer is the front line of ensuring the safety of the public and facilitating change each and every day with the most difficult and dangerous individuals in our society. Most perform their duties excellently and go relatively unnoticed in one of the less publicly visible vocations one can choose. It seems that the work they do makes it to the media only to report a moment when something goes wrong rather than the hundreds of thousands of hours, cumulatively, where the officers do the right thing in challenging circumstances. The Vermont Correctional Officer is the invisible unsung hero of the community and, until recently, had no visible form of representation to the Community other than bricks, razor wire, and sound bites. Enter in the Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) Honor Guard.


Standing straight with high polished shoes, belts and brass, black dress pants, formal gray jacket, white gloves and ceremonial black campaign hat, these distinctive representatives of the Vermont Department of Corrections define professionalism and honor while making presentations at Academy Graduations and other events, such as the National Peace Officer Day, Award Ceremonies, Public Service Recognition Week and are present at the opening of new facilities and the closing of others. They march in various parades around the State. The Vermont DOC Honor Guard has been present at the funerals of Governors and many Correctional Officers past and present. They have conducted the presentation of the American Flag and have Ceremonial Military M-1 Rifle drill demonstrations.


The current Team Leader of the 2009 Honor Guard is Workforce Development Director, Dana Lesperance, who also serves as an E-6, Tech. Sergeant for the Vermont Air Guard. “The Honor Guard has meaning and represents the core values of the Department of Corrections,” explains Mr. Lesperance, “It is about integrity, respect and honor. It is one of the few jobs that one can have in this department that always displays the Correctional Officer in a positive light.”


The Honor Guard also brings an exceptional sense of professional pride to ceremonies, particularly in the event of funerals. As the mourning family members look on, the Honor Guard serves as a professional and positive reflection of the vocational community that their loved one was part of.


The State of Vermont Agency of Human Services Secretary, Robert Hofmann, had this to say about the Honor Guard, ““I first recall meeting the Vermont Department of Corrections Honor Guard at the funerals for several of our deceased, active or retired staff back in 2005. Having personally appreciated the respect and support from a NYPD Honor Guard at my grandfather’s funeral, I took note of the support and comfort our Honor Guard offered to these grieving families on behalf of all Vermont corrections staff.”


“Subsequently,” continued Secretary Hofmann, “We have worked to emphasize the importance of Vermont Correctional Academy Graduations. Along with keynote speakers such as the Chief Justice, Governor and Senior Legislators, the participation of the Honor Guard has added a degree of solemnity to the ceremony and symbolized the respect and support of our current staff towards their new colleagues.”


Gary Dillon, Emergency Management Services Chief of the DOC, reflected that a need was discovered for the development of a formal Honor Guard in the Vermont Department of Corrections during the DOC’s representation at the funeral of past Vermont Governor Richard Snelling in 1991. “There were several events that pointed to that necessity,” said Mr. Dillon, “Certainly Governor Snelling’s funeral, and that of the N.H. Corrections’ Commissioner. During the opening of the Springfield Facility in 2004 we had the members of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) act as a de facto Honor Guard in the black BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms) . We built upon that obtaining funding for the uniforms from Public Safety and more recently received the Military M-1 Ceremonial Rifles.”


In a very rapid time, beginning in the everyday green and tan Correctional Officer uniforms in 1999, to the members of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the black BDUs at the 2004 opening of the Southeast State Correctional Facility in Springfield, Vermont, and progressing to attending the Peace Officer Memorial in 2006 as a fully suited Professional Honor Guard, the development of the DOC Honor Guard has been carried out with a diligent sense of duty by the members.


Mr. Dillon reports that the development of the uniforms took place over time and continues to evolve. Most importantly, however, that which remains constant is that “the Honor Guard represents what all new Correctional Officers should aspire to be. The Honor Guard represents the best of the best in appearance and presentation, along with the performance of their duties.”


Dana Lesperance agrees. “We strive for professionalism. We want to motivate the Correctional Officer, and create an awe inspiring memory in those who see us. We want to leave the event with a presentation of honor and professionalism, making it meaningful to the public”.


A significant mark for the Honor Guard was the 100th Graduation of the Correctional Academy in February of 2009. “It was then that we felt we were officially recognized and began formal duties,” said Lesperance.

Vermont Correctional Training Administrator, Barry Mulcahy adds, “The DOC Honor Guard has been instrumental in the evolution of the professionalization of our important right of passage, the graduation ceremony. Their professionalism has seeped into the very fabric of our training program and training center operations, resulting in a reoccurring theme of Pride & Professionalism. All staff of the training center deeply appreciates how this team continues to assist us with public displays of professionalism. Simply, we couldn't do it without them.”


COII Robert Papariello of the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF) in Burlington is a 7 year veteran of the Vermont Department of Corrections and a 4 year member of the Honor Guard. He is also a certified trainer in First Aid, Contraband Searches, CERT, LERT, and Use of Force. He was at the Vermont Training Center facilitating Use of Force Training for the new cadets of the 104th Correctional Academy when I spoke with him. “To me, the Honor Guard means professionalism. To be respectful in what you do. The Honor Guard makes a person feel real proud in what they do, what they believe in, and who they represent.”

To become a member of the Honor Guard all one must do is to ask. It is all voluntary and has been fully supported by the staff and leadership. Physical and mental health is very important as one may find themselves standing for several hours during a public presentation having marched to the event as part of a parade procession.


A member of the Vermont Correction’s Honor Guard attends quarterly trainings of eight hours each. “A full eight hours with a half hour for lunch”, reports Lesperance. The Honor Guard has received training from the Vermont State Police, Curtis/Britch Funeral Home in Newport, and also by the Vermont Air and Army National Guards. These trainings have taken place in Air Force hangers, National Guard Armories, Police Academies, funeral homes, and there is a plan to have training among the Cadets at Norwich University.


“We can stand beside anyone,” declared Lesperance a member of the Honor Guard since 2005, “We arrive at events several hours prior to prepare and practice. Our motto is three fold: Be Professional, Be Professional, Be Professional”.


“We are the best illustration that the DOC could have in displaying professionalism, Esprit de Corps (having "high morale" due to both their elite training and pride in their unit), it is all there”, continued Mr. Lesperance, “We represent the public face of Corrections. Providing an opportunity to represent all those behind the fences that the public doesn’t see, and all the good work they do. We represent the DOC family.”


The Vermont Department of Corrections Honor Guard strives for the highest level of professionalism and continues to move forward.


“The foundation work has been laid,” concludes Dana Lesperance, “We are now building the house. We will be looking into developing criteria for enrollment in the future. We want the best of the best to represent the DOC in the Honor Guard. We are building resources as we move along. Our needs are people.”


One observer at a recent event in regards to the DOC Honor Guard stated, “I have no idea what they did, but it was meaningful and nice”. What they did is to display what they represent. By their presence and dedication to professionalism and ceremony they create and instill a sense of honor into the moment.


These thoughts are echoed by COII Papariello, “One of the special things about the Honor Guard is that we get to be out there and do things for other people. We get to be there and make someone feel special. It makes the family who lost their loved one feel proud of who their father or mother was and what they represented. The presence of the Honor Guard gives them a feeling of the importance of what they did.”








Present Members ~


Dana Lesperance, VOWP Reginald Langtagne, NSCF Robert Berthiaume, NSCF


Brian Purcell, SESCF Maria Godleski , BUPP Kevin Jenkins, SSCF


Deb Martel, NEPP Robert Papariello, CRCF Ray Renoso, NERCF


Steve Stanley, NSCF Tello Young, NSCF


Testimonies by Supervisor Young and Probation and Parole Officer Godleski follow:


Probation and Parole Officer Maria Godleski :


I have been with the Department since September 2000. I started working through a temporary agency as a District Office Clerk (DOC). I became a state employee in November 2000. I have worked as a DOC II, Program Services Clerk, Community Correctional Officer, Probation & Parole Officer and Case Work Supervisor of the Domestic Violence Team. I am currently a Probation Officer supervising Sex Offenders. I have been a member of CERT since June 2003. I am the ADA Site Coordinator for Burlington Probation & Parole. I served on the Corrections Training Advisory Board for 4 years. I have been a member of Honor Guard for approximately 2 years. I accepted the invitation to the team as a challenge. I knew it would not be easy and it hasn’t, but it has been rewarding. I have participated in a few graduations. I have not had to participate in a funeral detail yet, but if I do I would be proud to honor the work of the dedicated employee and the support of their family. When not at work I spend the majority of my time playing team sports. I have played rugby for 13 years and recently was elected in to my second term as the Burlington Rugby Football Club President. In addition to playing rugby the club is involved in charitable events. We raise money for Salvation Army, Toys for Kids and Special Olympics.


Maria Godleski
Probation & Parole Officer
Burlington Probation and Parole




Correctional Facility Shift Supervisor Tello Young :


I have been with the department for just over ten years. I have worked my way up through the ranks, CO-1, CO-2, ACFSS and now a full time Supervisor (CFSS). I have been very involved with the department from the very beginning. I have been an FTO and a Diversity instructor. I am currently on the FTO, LERT, CERT and Honor Guard teams. I have been on the state CERT team since the first CERT basic, and have participated in state CERT activities such as shakedowns, unit take overs and other call outs. I have been on the state Honor Guard team since it first began back in 200?. I find that being on the Honor Guard can be challenging but is also the most rewarding. I have been to quite a few funerals, memorial services, and graduations. Participating in funerals are the toughest. Listening to the families talk about their loves ones can be rough, especially if they were a co-worker. It can be a hard job to be there when a department member has lost a love one, but to hear the thanks from the families make it all worth while. The Honor Guard team is made up of highly trained state workers that genuinely care about what they do.


Thanks,
CFSS Tello Young
Northern State Correctional Facility


If you are interested in learning more about the Vermont Corrections’ Honor Guard, or even becoming a member, please contact Dana.Lesperance@ahs.state.vt.us


For More pictures of the Vermont DOC Honor Guard showing the history, training and events please go to:


http://picasaweb.google.com/DOCHonorGuard/DOCHONORGUARD#








Article submitted by


Mark Shelton
Vermont Department of Corrections
Training Center
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, Vermont 05676


802-241-2391
Mark.Shelton@ahs.state.vt.us