Roadside Memorial for Fallen Lansing Firefighter Missing
Source Firehouse.com News
A memorial to a fallen Lansing firefighter where he was run down has gone missing.
On Sept. 9, Firefighter Dennis Rodeman was collecting donations when he was deliberately struck by a driver, who later told police he was angry about the traffic delay.
The driver reportedly honked his horn and threw an apple core at Rodeman before driving away only to turn around and come back and strike him.
Firefighter Ryan McCormick created the now missing memorial, a firefighter's boot filled with flowers, and secured it to a pole at the intersection. Other items also had been left, but he wanted something more permanent.
"Too many times with tragedies in our country, a week, days, not even a month later, and we move on with our lives. I wanted something that would be a long-standing tribute to Dennis, those who worked alongside him, and his family," McCormick told WILX.
Emergency Management Chief Mike Tobin told reporters: "...These are emotional items, very personal items especially for some of the firefighters who were on the scene. We're just trying to locate where they are, where they've disappeared to."
Officials have contacted people working on a project nearby, but they didn't remove them.
"The memorial, the items, and the intersection all have a strong personal connection for the fire department. Our guys go through that intersection numerous times per day," Tobin said. "It's still very fresh in their minds, and the memorial is a reminder for them. It keeps it close to their heart, and keeps Dennis close to them also."
