Firefighters honor brethren
By Roger Adkins
POSTED: May 13, 2008
PARKERSBURG - Area firefighters gathered Monday to honor the memories of their fallen comrades.
Wood County Firefighters Association held a memorial service during the group's monthly meeting at the Parkersburg Fire Department's Station 1 on Avery Street. The 7 p.m. meeting was attended by firefighters from area departments, and several guests were on hand for the memorial service.
The service was led by Chaplain Kevin Siers of the Parkersburg Fire Department and was held outside the Parkersburg Municipal Building near Bicentennial Park. It consisted of a prayer for departed firefighters, with firefighters in attendance standing together in formation
"Once a year, we come together to honor all the firefighters who have passed away," Siers said.
The memorial isn't specific to firefighterrs who died in the line of duty; it is for any current or retired firefighter who has died. Special recognition was given to firefighters who passed away in the past year.
Washington Bottom volunteer fire Chief K.C. Linder, president of the firefightersá association, said unity is important to fire departments and honoring the memories of fellow firefighters is a cause that helps to promote unity.
"The goal of the Wood County Firefighters Association is to bring unity to all the departments in the county. We take the month of May to also show, as a unified group, our appreciation for the memories of the firefightters who have passed away," Linder said.
Chief Kim Marshall, Deerwalk Volunteer Fire Department, said it is part of fire-service tradition to place strong emphasis on honoring the fallen among their ranks.
Marshall said firefighter funerals are a perfect example of the importance the fire service places on tradition.
"A firefighter's funeral, I believe, is one of the most well-organized of any organization and is only exceeded, perhaps, by the military in honoring the dead," he said.
