WAKULLA CO., Fla.-- The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Honor Guard honored Sheriff Donnie Crum Friday, Dec. 21 during a two phase Flag Retirement ceremony.
At 8 a.m., the Honor Guard raised a flag in Sheriff Crum’s honor and at 1 p.m. the Honor Guard retired the flag and presented it to the 15-month sheriff.
Sheriff Crum hosted the annual WCSO Christmas luncheon prior to the ceremony which gave the staff an opportunity to thank the Sheriff for his contributions to law enforcement. The sheriff will remain in office until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 when Sheriff-Elect Charlie Creel takes over the office. While Sheriff Crum has been in office for only 15 months, he has been in the law enforcement field for 40 years.
During the ceremony, the Honor Guard folded and retired the American flag before presenting it to the Sheriff.
WCSO staff requested the opportunity to honor the Sheriff for His “selfless service to Wakulla County and its citizens.” Sheriff Crum was appointed Sheriff Oct. 1, 2011 by Gov. Rick Scott after longtime Sheriff David Harvey announced his retirement.
The six members of the WCSO Honor Guard included: Lt. Billy Jones, Deputy Will Hudson, Detective Rob Giddens, Detective Ryan Muse, Detective Derek Lawhon and Deputy Rachel Wheeler.
A salute and reveille was played on a bugle during the morning ceremony and the bugler played Retreat as the flag was lowered during the afternoon ceremony. As part of a tradition, a (flash bang) round was fired by the shotgun officer. A flash bang is a black powder blank round used to distract and calm unruly inmates during jail disturbances as well as a distraction when law enforcement enters a home by force. The bugler played “To The Colors” as the flag was lowered and folded by the Honor Guard and presented to the sheriff.
“It has been a great career,” said Sheriff Crum. “To be successful you have to have good people around you and I have had great people around me. God bless every one of you.”
In the United States Military, the ceremony honors the flag on a daily basis. The Retreat Ceremony has been a part of the U.S. Army since the Revolutionary War. At that time it was sounded by drums which were part of the Infantry of the time period.
In more modern times the firing of a gun or cannon was intended to call the troops back to the fort or camp from their fatigue duties of the day. The booming of the cannon could be heard at a greater distance than the sound of a drum or bugle.
