ANSLEE WILLETT
Courtesy of The Gazette, Colorado Springs
Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette
Colorado Springs firefighters hang a giant American flag from a pedestrian bridge Friday over West Pikes Peak Avenue. Colorado Springs has rolled out a warm welcome for the families and friends of the 425 people whose names will be added to the memorial for fallen firefighters.
|
Moments after Jim Walker was handed a flag Saturday in honor of his father who died battling a fire, his 5-year-old daughter went over to touch her lips to his.
Walker gripped the firefighters' union flag and leaned back in his chair.
His dad, Dale J. Walker, was one of 499 men and women recognized at the 16th annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony.
The majority of the firefighters - 343 - died in the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center.
The ceremony also honored the 74 men and women added to the memorial wall during last year's ceremony, just four days after the Sept. 11 attacks, when only 13 families were able to attend because of travel restrictions.
An estimated 10,000 people gathered Saturday at Memorial Park for the International Association of Fire Fighters' largest ceremony in its 84-year history.
"Each year we mark the passing of far too many" firefighters, said U.S.
Rep. Joel Hefley who pushed legislation to get the memorial site in Colorado Springs in 1986.
"I wish some year we could come here and celebrate because a year had passed without us losing a single one. But that's probably too much to hope for."
Because Walker's father died in 1981, before the memorial was established, his name was supposed to have been added to the site when it was founded. Two granite walls list the IAFF firefighters killed in the line of duty since 1976.
For some reason, his father's name was never added to the memorial and the mistake just was discovered this past year.
"It's better late than never," Walker said after the ceremony. "I can appreciate it now."
Walker, who grew up to join the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department just like his dad, also lost a co-worker in a fire. During a 1999 blaze, Walker searched for his battalion chief, who died in the fire.
Walker, who was 5 when his father died after being crushed by a collapsing wall, said fighting fires is all he wants to do.
"I'd rather die helping people than die in a car wreck, you know?"
That's the kind of selflessness that was honored at the ceremony.
"Your fallen heroes, who never wanted to be called heroes, exemplified what true heroism is all about," said keynote speaker and IAFF president
Harold Schaitberger He told the audience to remember and reflect on the lives of their loved ones, not their loss.
"We must remember that they could be a serious bunch, but never took themselves too seriously," Schaitberger said. "How easily they would laugh with one another in what we call firehouse humor, yet never forgetting how to weep when compassion was required."
Colorado Springs councilwoman Sallie Clark told the families the community will be here for them year after year.
"We're eager to hear your names and learn your stories. But in a sense we already know you," she said. "You're the flesh and blood reminders of the life and love your firefighters gave us in one moment to protect our communities, our country.
'And we're honored to be in your presence. And we're forever in your debt."
Flyovers by the United States Air Force marked the beginning and the end of the ceremony. One of the planes was a C-130 that has been used to battle wildland fires.
"We know the dangers associated with firefighting," said Col. Richard Moss of the 302nd Airlift Wing. "Seven of our comrades or fellow aviators from the civilian community have died this year fighting (wildland) fires.
"However, we're fortunate. We fly over the inferno. You go directly into it."
As Hefley told the firefighters, "You're there to do what needs to be done to protect us. And I don't know why you do it, but thank God that you do."
IAFF Memorial Service
When: September 21, 2002
Where: Colorado Springs, CO
The 16th annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Ceremony,
is expected to be the largest in the memorial’s history. honoring IAFF members who were
killed in the line of duty between June 2001 and June 2002.
The Gazette's Everyday Heroes Series:
>> Visit: The Gazette Memorial
|
|
For More Coverage:
