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Memories linger of those who died in line of duty
By Carl Chancellor
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Oct 10, 2008
The sun glinted off the brass buttons and badges of the dress blues worn by the honor guard of firefighters and police as they solemnly marched carrying flags and ceremonial axes outside Fire Station No. 4 Thursday morning.
Nearly 200 Akron firefighters, police officers and city officials, along with family and friends of fallen firefighters, gathered to honor the memories of 13 Akron firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.
''This day is set aside each year to pay tribute to these brave men . . . We come to reassure their family members and friends that we will never forget their supreme sacrifice,'' Fire Chief Larry Bunner said.
The chief spoke of ''time healing all wounds'' and he granted ''family members hear that all the time but it holds no truth.''
Bunner said the passage of time eventually allows loved ones to find a measure of happiness in fond memories.
''Time doesn't heal all wounds, it just eases the pain,'' Bunner said.
Russell Eckard, one of the owners of Eckard-Baldwin funeral home, lost his grandfather James. F.A. Wise in the line of duty. Wise, the last Akron firefighter to die on the job, died of a heart attack fighting a fire on Howard Street in 1969.
''It is hard to believe that it has been 40 years since a firefighter lost his life in the line of duty, but it is a wonderful statement to make,'' said Eckard, holding aloft a plaque recently commissioned honoring his late grandfather, which hangs at the funeral home.
Eckard said when his mother and grandmother first saw the plaque their tears came uncontrollably even though 40 years had passed.
Mayor Don Plusquellic said the city and its citizens can never ''say enough to those individuals who lost their lives.'' Likewise, the selflessness of those firefighters still on duty —''putting themselves in harm's way''—also must be honored.
''We say thank you, thank you very much,'' Plusquellic said.
The Rev. Bob Denton, pastor of the Furnace Street Mission, spoke of all firefighters having a special ''strength to put life on the line.'' Then he noted the 13 men on the memorial outside the fire house — David Miller, Thomas Stein, Charles Platt, Fred Smith, Thomas Harris, Eddie Wolfe, Roy Smith, Dwight Hinman, Ross Varner, Fred Yantis, Lawrence Labbe, John Nist and James Wise — who when ''dared to risk everything, did.''
Phillip Gauer, president of firefighter's union Local 330, said that every year on average, 120 firefighters die in the line of duty.
''There have been 93 lives lost this year. Six in Ohio,'' Gauer said.
Following tradition, a red carnation was placed in a memorial wreath as each name of a fallen Akron firefighter was read aloud as a golden bell was sounded, symbolizing the last alarm.
''When the last hose is rolled and the final bell rings for me, I ask that you protect my family and all my friends until we all meet at the general roll call in heaven . . . '' The lines are from The Firefighter's Prayer.
Carl Chancellor can be reached at 330-996-3725 or cchancellor@thebeaconjournal.com.
The sun glinted off the brass buttons and badges of the dress blues worn by the honor guard of firefighters and police as they solemnly marched carrying flags and ceremonial axes outside Fire Station No. 4 Thursday morning.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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AKRON, OH
Posted 01:47 AM, 10/10/2008
DON SHOULD REMEMBER THIS WHEN HE'S SCREWING THEM AROUND FOR BENIFITS
Akron, OH
Posted 07:12 AM, 10/10/2008
I was amazed that the DUI king and the city hall hero were sober enough to attend the event.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:08 PM, 10/10/2008
Dirty Don should just take himself out of our harm's way and resign. Why bring his undignified self to such a dignified ceremony? Just like the other day at Middlebury Cemetery, Beta, I guess the bars weren't yet open.
