Helmet Stolen from Anderson, SC, Firefighter's Roadside Memorial
Officials say a helmet was stolen from a memorial for an Anderson firefighter who was struck and killed three years ago.
The roadside memorial was erected in Williamston after Anderson firefighter Daniel Bagwell was struck while filling his car with fuel on Midway Road.
“When we ride by the spot, it’s already painful, it’s a little more painful to see his memory disgraced a little bit like that,” Battalion Chief Brian Black told FoxCarolina.com. “Daniel deserves a little better than that.”
A yellow and firefighter's helmet adorned the top of the memorial until it was taken. At the time of his death, Bagwell was working toward a promotion to sergeant and the red helmet shield reflected that achievement.
For 11 years, Bagwell worked for the Anderson Fire Department and was also a member at other agencies, where he is remembered for his sense of humor.
“We’d really like to see that memorial reestablished and that helmet brought back in,” Black told the television station. “So when we drive by the place we miss Daniel, we’d still be reminded of what he stood for in his life.”
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Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief
Peter Matthews is the editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.