GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 17th Training Wing hosted the annual Department of Defense Fallen Firefighter Memorial to honor and pay tribute to firefighters who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, March 28.
The ceremony included the firefighters’ prayer, the lowering of the flags to half-staff, and the firefighters’ final call. This final call, marked by the ringing of a bell, harkens back to the earliest days of firefighting tradition, where a bell would signify the beginning and end of a call. During the ceremony, the bell was rung as a solemn send-off to the brave men and women who gave their lives serving others.
The fallen will also be memorialized with brick pavers that will have their names carved into them. In the coming months, these pavers will be created and laid at the Fire Protection Heritage Pathway on Goodfellow AFB.
Col. Angelina Maguinness, 17th Training Wing commander, and Fire Chief Jeffrey Felty both spoke at the event. Col. Maguinness focused on the sacrifice and honor of our first responders, emphasizing the gratitude felt for their service.
“These heroes answered the call of duty,” said Maguinness. “They put the safety of others over their own, they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage continues to inspire us every day.”
Since 1993, the Louis F. Garland DoD Fire Academy has graduated over 60,000 students from fire protection training courses, both basic and advanced. This annual memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifices made by these firefighters and ensures their legacy continues to be honored.
The following firefighters were memorialized this year:
Chief TJ Maury, NAS, New Orleans, Louisiana
Captain Adam Hart, Hurlburt Field, Florida
Captain Christopher Carneal, Ft Carson, Colorado
Captain Jeremy C. Lundgren, Dover AFB, Delaware
Firefighter Bryan “Hammy” P. Hamilton, Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland
Firefighter Jerry L. Leverett, U.S. Army Garrison Redstone, Alabama
Firefighter Herbert A. Wells, NSA-Annapolis, Maryland
Firefighter Warren Flatford Marsh, NSF-Dahlgren, Virginia