Tuscaloosa, Ala--- Nearly four hundred families, friends and firefighters gathered next to a reflecting pond and a towering statue of a firefighter to remember the lives of more than 200 Alabama firefighters who have died in and off the line of duty.
As a solo singer softly crooned the words to Amazing Grace, flags gently flapped in the wind as many sobbed during at a somber memorial on the campus of the Alabama Fire College. Cloudy skies casted light shadows on the names of honored firefighters etched in bricks that lined the walkway ofthe memorial. Here ,on this day, honoring those who gave their lives to help others is the reason why so many have gathered with heavy hearts. There are more than 200 names memorialized at the state’s firefighter memorial. On Saturday morning, the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs recognized four more.
James E. Wells, Jr. of the Pelham Fire Department, Stephen M. Harbison of the Pleasant Grove Fire Department, Billy A. Gafford, Jr. of the Birmingham Fire Department and Steven Allan Sullivan of the Nicol Fire Department were remembered in the presence of their family and fellow firefighters. Each family was given a folded U.S. flag and a token of remembrance in honor of their loved one.
During the outdoor ceremony former Fulton County, Georgia Deputy Fire Chief Niles Ford spoke to those who attended reminding many of the daily sacrifices made by men and women who answer when the alarm bells rings.
“What you need to know about firefighters is the call, these people that you have in your communities they eat and sleep drink the commitment and concern for community, that what they want and are called to do,” Chief Ford said.
Today's event marked the 5th annual Alabama firefighter’s memorial ceremony.
For more information about the Alabama Fire College or it’s annual ceremony, please access the below.
http://www.alabamafirecollege.net/INDEX2.ASP
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