CONCORD, N.H. — Auburn firefighters Craig D. Bouchard and Gene L. Keene attended the National Honor Guard Academy held on the campus of the New Hampshire Fire Academy during the week of Oct. 21-26.

Representatives of eight states and a federal agency participated in the intensive training program. Based in Seminole, Fla., the National Honor Guard program is dedicated to developing and elevating the ceremonial knowledge and skill level of honor guard units while reinforcing a sense of pride and compassion by upholding honor guard traditions with precise attention to detail.

The Honor Guard Academy specializes in providing honor guard training to firefighters, police officers and EMS personnel.

Those attending the training program practiced basic drill and ceremonies, church and casket protocol, flag etiquette and role of the honor guard commander. The program also included a complete mock funeral that covered planning and conducting events at a funeral home, church and cemetery.

Program attendees came from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio and Vermont. Members of the Department of Defense Logistics Command also participated in the training.