Hello, my name is William Stranahan. I began my Correction Career on June 28, 1982, working in Attica State Prison. Initially, I was assigned to the Special Housing Unit and remained there for
ten years. I then became a Training Relief Officer and finally a facility-in-service Training Officer. In 1984, I applied and was appointed to the Correction Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.)
and the Attica Honor Guard. Both of which I remained until my retirement on December 31, 2013.

I am blessed to have two boys, Bill and Dan, and have six grandchildren and a beautiful wife, Susan.

In 2010, a member of the C.P.O.F. Honor Guard, Dave Wedzina, signed me up to be a supporting member of this organization, and our Honor Guard attended our first project in Buffalo, New York. After attending and learning what C.P.O.F. had to offer, I was hooked. I talked with Correction Officers from around the nation and found out I wasn’t alone in my profession. After numerous conversations, I felt these Officers were standing alongside me at roll call and not from all different states.

I felt I had come as far as I could with being on my honor guard and wanted to expand my experience and help on the National level. I applied for and was appointed to the Correction Peace Officers National Honor Guard in 2011.

When we are summoned by our Commander to a fallen officer’s funeral, we gather our equipment, get on a plane, and when we arrive, we try to make that fallen family’s pain a little more comforting by doing whatever we’re asked to do, and hopefully we take some of that pain with us so the family can rest a little easier.