GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Goodfellow held the annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony for Department of Defense firefighters at the Firefighter Memorial on base, April 27.
There were new names added to the memorial this year, and roses placed to honor those who died in the line of duty.
In the year 2017, the DoD Fire Department lost 90 current and former firefighters. The fire protection techniques of the present are forever changing to adapt and overcome new obstacles, but are steeped in 200 years of tradition. One such tradition is the sounding of a bell. A bell signaled the beginning of a day’s shift and also served as an alarm. At the end of putting out the fire a bell would signal to all that the firefighters had completed the task. In honor to that tradition, a bell is rang three times and repeated three times as a special way to symbolize the end of a firefighter's duties.
This year the fallen firefighters honored included, Chief Charles Crist, Assistant Chief Edward Vanner, and Chief Ted Typhus.
Col. Shawn Moore, Detachment 6, Air Force Installation and Mission Support commander, was the guest speaker. Moore is a former commander of the 312th Training Squadron on Goodfellow Air Force Base.
“Those who we enshrine into this memorial transcend what we may have otherwise thought of firefighting,” said Moore. “They gave everything, that ultimate sacrifice is not to be taken lightly.”
This memorial is for all former military firefighters, even if a firefighter crosses into the civilian sector they can be honored at the memorial.
“This is what we envisioned when we began,” said Tech. Sgt. Kyle Dobler, 312th TRS fire inspector course noncommissioned officer in charge. “To preserve old ways and equipment and to honor those who have paid that ultimate sacrifice.”