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Support for Families Unprecendented Despite Lower than Expected Turnout
LON SLEPICKA and HEATHER CASPI
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a hushed MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Director of the Office of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said that some had suggested he had an impossible job. No he said. It was firefighters who had the impossible job and they did it without complaint, without delay and without failure. There were 446 firefighters who died in the line of duty honored at the Sunday National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service who Ridge referred to as doing the impossible job. Nothing we can say or do can alleviate the loss felt by the family, Ridge said, but being with other family members who have experienced the same thing might help. That was the theme for the whole weekend and as Foundation Executive Director Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki said, "[The Weekend] is not for the crowds, its for the families," "That's what counts."
On a day of marching honor guards, bagpipers and streets lined with firefighters from across the nation as the buses of family members moved slowly from the hotels to the service, it was a record crowd gathering for the annual event. But with the crowd estimated at 10,000 for Sunday's events, it was far from the 100,000 uniformed personnel that had been called for by some fire service organizations. Event organizers had originally said that only family and departments with line of duty deaths being recognized would be able to attend the event inside the MCI Center, with the remainder of personnel watching on large screens on streets outside the venue. But early Sunday, thousands of tickets were distributed to those participating in the 'Sea of Blue' march. Even then, the 20,000-seat arena was less than half capacity Members of the Anne Arundel County, MD Alarmers Association who set up their canteen just outside the Center to distribute water and snacks to those in the procession said the streets cleared as soon as the service started. There was sufficient room inside for those wanting to watch the service in the comfortable air-conditioned venue.
This annual NFFF Memorial weekend plays to ways on the hearts of those who attend. For those coming to honor the fallen bravest, it is a chance to come together in the unit of a proud profession to pay homage. To the families it is a chance to gather with others who have suffered like them and to help place their lost loved one on the rolls of honor. Several firefighters from the Wastarea Fire Department in Cumberland County, N.C., said they were also impressed with the event. "I thought it was fantastic," said Chief Terrence Rielly. However, Rielly said he did expect a few more people to attend. He had been concerned that the memorial service might lose its intimate feel, because it was so big this year. "I was afraid that might happen but it didn't," he said. One firefighter left the service a bit early and waited for his friends outside. "There's only so much you can take," said Firefighter Craig McDowell of the Parkwood Fire Department in Durham, N.C.
McDowell said he was surprised that there weren't even more firefighters at the event. "I thought there would be more, I really did," he said. "It's a good turnout nonetheless." McDowell said he's gone to the memorial service in previous years, in Emmittsburg, MD, and didn't think that the changes made to this year's service in DC had any effect, because the important part is simply being together. "They could have had it in somebody's backyard and it would have been the same to me."
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