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GIRARD —
A total of 80 firefighters died in the line of duty during 2012, and they will be commemorated during the 25th annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
The service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Girard High School football field. This is a change in location from the Girard Fire Station.
“Eagle Med is going to fly in a flag, and they need a good size landing zone,” said Craig Garrett, Girard firefighter and also a lieutenant in Crawford County Fire District No. 4. “Because of the streets and power lines we couldn’t do it at the station. We also hope that, by having it at the football field, we’ll be able to have more people attend.”
He noted that, in addition to the 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2011, five additional firefighters who died in previous years will also be remembered.
“After research it was determined that they also died in the performance of their duty so they are being added to the National Memorial,” Garrett said.
Pete Scale, former Girard fire chief, will give the welcome.
“Pete got this started so it’s fitting for him to do the welcome,” Garrett said.
Main guest speaker will be Bob White, fire science coordinator at Hutchinson Community College.
“We’ve also got a bagpiper coming in from Kansas City, and there will be multiple honor guards present,” Garrett said.
“We invited Gov. Sam Brownback to attend, but unfortunately he won’t be able to do that,” Garrett said. “He did send me a letter to read in his behalf.”
He said the service will follow the same format as in the past, including a reading of the names of all the fallen firefighters.
A total of 80 firefighters died in the line of duty during 2012, and they will be commemorated during the 25th annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
The service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Girard High School football field. This is a change in location from the Girard Fire Station.
“Eagle Med is going to fly in a flag, and they need a good size landing zone,” said Craig Garrett, Girard firefighter and also a lieutenant in Crawford County Fire District No. 4. “Because of the streets and power lines we couldn’t do it at the station. We also hope that, by having it at the football field, we’ll be able to have more people attend.”
He noted that, in addition to the 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2011, five additional firefighters who died in previous years will also be remembered.
“After research it was determined that they also died in the performance of their duty so they are being added to the National Memorial,” Garrett said.
Pete Scale, former Girard fire chief, will give the welcome.
“Pete got this started so it’s fitting for him to do the welcome,” Garrett said.
Main guest speaker will be Bob White, fire science coordinator at Hutchinson Community College.
“We’ve also got a bagpiper coming in from Kansas City, and there will be multiple honor guards present,” Garrett said.
“We invited Gov. Sam Brownback to attend, but unfortunately he won’t be able to do that,” Garrett said. “He did send me a letter to read in his behalf.”
He said the service will follow the same format as in the past, including a reading of the names of all the fallen firefighters.
