Remembering the Fallen

Last week, I made a phone call to our newly appointed Chaplain to let him know about the Bells Across America program by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. That one phone call is all it took for my brother Barry Carr to run with this. Around 10am this morning, Barry came in the station and we began going over the agenda for the day. We were going to have a bag piper play, but at the last minute he had to cancel....but Barry wasn't worried. He was prepared to make the best out of what we had. We had shared the event on Facebook, sent information to the local TV station, and it was printed in the local paper.

 

We had no idea how many people would show up. We didn't really care. The reason we were doing this ceremony wasn't for any TV camera or any photograph. The reason we were doing this was to remember the fallen. Even if we would have been the only ones in the station, the event would have continued. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Around 2:30pm today, the media arrived and set up in the apparatus bay. Due to weather, we decided to have the event inside with Engine 1 as the backdrop. It couldn't have turned out any better. Retirees, firefighters families, and members of local churches attended the event.

 

The ceremony was opened with a prayer from Chaplain Carr. He then led into the quote from Chief Edward F. Croker of FDNY. A portion of the quote is as follows:

“I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman. The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the fireman has to do believe that his is a noble calling. Our proudest moment is to save lives. Under the impulse of such thoughts, the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring, even of supreme sacrifice.

Chaplain Carr explained the eight points of the Maltese Cross and the meaning of each. The history of the bell ceremony in regards to the fire service was described about how the bell was used to signify the beginning and end of a firefighters tour.  Engineer Bossert, Firefighter Bledsoe, Firefighter Delph, and Firefighter Lindholm read off the list of the 85 fallen firefighters names who were honored this weekend at the National Fire Academy.



I could not help but to think about each and every survivor from every one of those firefighters who had given the ultimate sacrifice. The bell was then struck 3 rings for 3 times. The strike of the bell sends chills down my back each time that I hear it...and unfortunately the last two times I have heard it have been at funerals for two of my very close friends. The event was called to a close by Chaplain Carr saying the Firefighter's Prayer.

Words can not explain the pride and honor we showed today as we all participated in the ceremony. I believe those in attendance were pleased with the way that we remembered those who have passed on. I hope this is something we can make an annual event here in the Model City. Below are a few more pictures from the event.

 

 

 

 

 

NFFF Memorial Weekend

This weekend, October 6th and 7th,  is the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend. There are many events planned for this weekend in Maryland at the National Fire Academy, but there are many ways to participate for all of those who are unable to make the trip.

Locally, we will be hosting a ceremony at KFD Station 1 at 130 Island Street, Kingsport, TN 37664. This ceremony will be in coordination of the Bells Across America program by the NFFF. This is the second year since they launched the program and last year they had over 100 departments participate. The ceremonies usually consist of the ringing of the bell, a moment of silence, prayer, or another type of way to remember those firefighters who passed away last year. If you attend our ceremony in Kingsport, it will begin around 3PM and dress either Class-A uniform or semi-formal. We have a Facebook event created here.

Rhett Fleitz, FireCritic.com, and Willie Wines, IronFiremen.com, are travelling up the assist with the services. They will be helping with the social media side of things, and if you haven't followed their sites, you are missing out. I consider both of them very good friends, and I look up to both of them in many ways. They are a constant reminder of how Brotherhood is still alive. Click the links above and check out their sites.

I have not been able to travel to the NFA yet, but I plan on trying to attend within the next couple of years. For now, I will be following along with the live webcast of the services throughout the weekend. 83 firefighters will be honored at the Memorial Weekend. They died in the Line of Duty last year, and the least we can do is watch the services and participate in a few of the programs the NFFF has for us this year.

Listed below are the times that the programs will be streaming live on ModelCityFirefighter.Blogspot.com.

Candlelight Service Broadcast: Saturday, October 6, 2012 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time (Streaming Begins at 6:00 p.m.; Service Begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time)

Memorial Service Broadcast: Sunday, October 7, 2012 9:30 am - 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(Streaming Begins at 9:30 a.m.; Service Begins at 10 a.m. Eastern Time)

 

 

A complete run down of all of the links can be found at http://weekend.firehero.org/creative/2012/

 

Thanks for following along,

 

AC