A few weeks ago, I attended a memorial service for two Marine Corps helicopter pilots who were killed in a training exercise at Camp Pendleton. I never had been to a military memorial service before, and I was struck by the depth of its symbolism and tradition — much like the fire service.
The upcoming National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Annual Memorial Weekend started me thinking about some of the parallels between the Marine Corps and the fire service — the passion, the camaraderie and particularly the honor for the fallen.
Sen. Paul H. Douglas once said of his experience in the Marine Corps that, “the fellowship of shared hardships and dangers in a worthy cause creates a close bond of comradeship.”
The Marine Corps and the fire service both create a bond of comradeship that is familial; both are dedicated to taking care of their own, at home or abroad, in sickness or in need.
When a firefighter dies, his or her boots are displayed and topped with a bunker coat and helmet. For the Marines, it is a wooden cross that is draped with a flight helmet, jacket, boots, rifle and dog tags.
The fire service has a long affiliation with bells. A bell would announce a call for help at the fire station. A clanging bell on the front end of a fire truck would warn people to get out of the way. The striking of a bell would mark the end of a memorial service — a time-honored tradition of honor and respect for a firefighter who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The Marine Corps end their memorial services with a roll call. An officer steps to the front of the room and begins the roll call. When the fallen soldier’s name is called out, there is silence. The name is repeated louder, then more silence. Finally, the officer makes a third, even louder call, which is followed by a longer silence before the first notes of “Taps” begin.
This weekend 72 fallen firefighters from 2010 and 17 from previous years will be remembered at the NFFF memorial services. Of the 89 to be honored, 73 surviving families will participate in the memorial, as will 700 survivors, 200 escorts, 1,000 honor guards and several thousand volunteers.
Whether the lingering sound of the fire bell, or the deafening silence following a soldier’s name, let there be refuge and comfort among mourners of those who die in selfless service to others.
