Firefighters and first responders paid honor Monday to the man who started the Cole County Fire Protection District Honor Guard in 1998.
Larry Rizner, 81, died Dec. 28. His services were held Monday and included a procession of emergency vehicles.
He served 45 years with the Cole County fire district and was captain at CCFPD Station No. 4 on Monticello Road.
"Larry always had a good story to tell you that made you laugh," said CCFPD Public Information Officer Steve Cearlock, who also serves on the honor guard. "He was a fire equipment salesman for several years and was known for selling the 'jaws of life' to numerous departments."
Rizner saw many other departments had honor guards, Cearlock said, so he decided to put together a group of district firefighters so they could be on duty when the district opened a new facility on Monticello Road, but the unit expanded their service.
Over the years, the honor guard has represented the district at numerous special events around Mid-Missouri, such as the Heart Ball and Relay for Life, as well as presenting the colors on several occasions at the Missouri state Capitol. The unit has stood guard at the caskets of not only Cole County firefighters who have died, but also at the funerals of firefighters and first responders from other parts of the state.
"I think we do this more as a service to the community," Rizner said in an October 2018 feature on the honor guard in the News Tribune. "I was on an honor guard in the Navy, and I always enjoyed what we did."
Those who serve in the guard said Rizner's passion for making sure respect is given to the flag and to what first responders stand for are the reasons the guard has stayed together over the years.
"We have six members currently in the honor guard, and we're going to keep the unit together as long as we can," Cearlock said. "We're proud to serve, and this was an appropriate way to honor Larry and his vision to start this unit."