Sheriff's Office Boasts First All-Female Honor Guard at Competition

The following information was provided by the Sheriff's Office.

Five members of the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard will cross the grounds of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 5. The event is a competition and wreath laying ceremony sponsored by the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments during National Correctional Employees Week.

For the first time in the Sheriff's Office history, all members of the competing team are female. In fact, never in the 21-year history of this competition has any agency fielded an all-female team.

"We did not set out to have a certain number of men or women for this competition," said Lieutenant William Friedman, commander of the honor guard. "But when it looked like the team was shaping up to be mostly female, we decided as a group to go all the way in that direction."

The honor guard currently has 36 members, eight of whom are female. Joining the team is voluntary, but the process is very competitive. The team is known for its strict composure, precise military bearing and meticulous attention to detail. Members formally train for two hours every month and drill before every event.

"We’ve had so much fun at practices," said Private First Class Amy Lewis, a nine-year veteran of the honor guard. "Marching has been easier, too. Since we’re all the same height, our strides match step for step. Win or lose, we’ve had a great journey to get to this competition."

The memorial is located on E Street, between 4th and 5th Streets, NW. Visitors riding Metro should go to the Judiciary Square Station, F Street exit; the memorial is directly above.