The 24th Annual Memorial Service to be hosted at the Fire Fighters Memorial
KINGDOM CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri firefighters gathered in Kingdom City at the Fire fighters Memorial Foundation to honor all firefighters who died while serving their communities for the 24th annual candlelight service.
The candlelight service will be hosted on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, another service will be held at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday’s service was a personal gathering to honor all fallen firefighters and gave families a chance to reflect on their community.
Sunday’s service will be a more formal ceremony with full protocols, inviting firefighters from across Missouri.
Tracy Gray on the Board of Directors for the Fire Fighter Memorial Foundation said Saturday’s ceremony is special because of it’s candlelight vigil.
“Under the lights and then the candles, it just kind of lets you reflect a little bit,” said Gray. “The granite wall with the line-of-duty deaths, the kneeling firefighter, it just looks so special at nighttime with the candles reflecting off of it.”
Gray said 105 firefighters were honored on Saturday. Five died in the line of duty, and 100 firefighters will be placed on the Legends Wall. He said members who have worked in the field for 10 or more years have an opportunity to have their names on the wall.
According to the Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri, the event is two days long to allow time to honor all firefighters whom community members submit.
Being an active firefighter for over 30 years, Gray said he feels lucky to have retired and gets to attend the annual memorial to honor his brothers and sisters in service.
“I just kind of feel like I’m one of the lucky ones,” said Gray. “And it just means so much that I could do that. And my brothers and sisters, I want to make sure that their families understand that we will never forget their part of the fire service family, and they always will be.”
On Friday, Governor Mike Kehoe proclaimed October 4 to be Fire Service Memorial day, to honor all firefighters who risk their lives everyday to protect the citizens of Missouri.
Gray said it means a lot to the fire community that the Missouri Governor understands the sacrifices of their jobs.
“We have a governor in place that understands our jobs and how we do and how it affects our families,” said Gray. “And he’s always willing to take his time out of his busy schedule to talk to us and to listen to what we have to say.”
Kehoe has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome to turn red at sunset on Saturday till sunrise on Monday, October 5.
In a press release from Kehoe’s office, Acting State Fire Marshal Matt Luetkemeyer said that lighting the dome red will expand awareness and give appreciation for those in the fire service who risk their lives and run towards danger.
Gray said lighting the Capitol dome not only lets the community know they support them, but also reminds them of the sacrifices fallen firefighters have made.
“It lets the community understand that are the fire service is always here for them,” said Gray. “But also it lets them know that there are those that do the ultimate sacrifice and we want to make sure that they’re never forgotten.”
Both services will be located at 5550 Dunn Drive in Kingdom City. Services will be held regardless of the weather, but if needed, the location will change to the gym at Auzxvasse Middle School.
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