Firefighters from across the United States of America (including members of Wake and District) will gather together this weekend at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Maryland. This is an annual gathering honoring those brothers (and sisters) who gave their lives in service.
If you were to take a firefighter and strip them of their badge, remove their turnout gear, peel their skin back, and remove the organs – this brotherhood is that small fire that continues to burn inside of them. That small fire cannot be extinguished, cannot be contained, and cannot be taken away. It is what makes these brave men and women firefighters and they should never let personal feelings hamper their decision to help another “brother”. This brotherhood burns even brighter for those who serve and also have chosen to play the pipes and drums. Playing the pipes and drums is how we honor our fallen; no spoken words – just music burning dignity and solemnity into the soul.
This year firefighters (and pipers and drummers) from across the United States of America will have the opportunity to come together in fraternal fellowship to honor our fallen comrades. Although we work for different agencies, wear different uniforms and play different instruments and tunes in different bands – music brings us together FOR OUR FALLEN.
From LEGEROS.com :: The 37th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. The ceremony will honor the lives of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and 23 firefighters who died in previous years. They include four firefighters from North Carolina, listed below.
The names of the firefighters will be read, and their loved ones will receive an American flag that had been flown above the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the U.S. Capitol Dome. They will also be presented with a red rose and a special personalized badge. During the ceremony, a bronze plaque bearing the names of the fallen will be officially added to the national memorial.
The service begins at 10:00 a.m. and is open to the public. The fallen firefighters will be remembered at a Candlelight Service at the same location on Saturday, October 6, 6:30 p.m.
Visit https://www.firehero.org/ for more information, including the 2018 Roll of Honor.
Rufus E. Brinson Jr. Reelsboro FD Died 6/6/08 Collapsed during training
Jason Keith Hensley Triple Community FD Died 10/9/17 Vehicle collision while responding to call
Donald “Reid” Key II Whispering Pines FD Died 12/27/16 Became ill after returning home from fire station
Eric Durean Lacewell Wilmington FD Died 11/4/14 Injuries from accident at station on 3/31/11
Photo credit: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
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