American flags flap for fallen firefighters
Two weeks ago, a brand-new flag ceremony occurred in Washington, D.C. To salute firefighters who have given their lives to save others, American flags waved from the dome of the U.S. Capitol. The banners marked the loss of nearly 100 heroes in 2013. Another nine were raised to honor, symbolically, those who had died in previous years.
Congressman David Reichert (R-Washington State) said, “We will never forget those who were lost in service to our country.”
When the flags were lowered, they were placed in a fire engine and driven to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland. On Columbus Day, October 12, the Capitol banners will be given to survivors of the heroes.
* Learn more about the annual National Firefighters Memorial Weekend
In a speech delivered a year ago at another memorial for firefighters, Vice President Joe Biden said that they were “heroes long before we knew their names. We teach our children that…courage and resolve and perseverance…are ingrained in our national character as Americans. And I believe they are. I believe they animate our national identity. And I believe America will continue to be defined by [firefighters] who did extraordinary things.”
For centuries, firemen (and now firewomen) have been saluted for their heroism and commitment to protecting others. An example occurred 190 years ago when a blaze broke out in a rope-making factory in Rhode Island. The ropes themselves and the oils used in the processing made the fire especially dangerous.
“The flames spread with great fury,” declared The Providence Patriot. “The highly combustible nature of the manufacturing soon sent the flames into two adjacent businesses.”
Due to the summer heat and the temperatures of the flames, the paper reported, “several of the firemen were much fatigued,…dropped down and were carried to adjoining buildings….One of the firemen was stated to have died last evening.”
Six months earlier, in New York City, services for Gerrardus Burges were held, and the firemen of the city were invited to attend “the funeral of their deceased brother fireman.” Burges, like thousands before and after him, was killed while battling a blaze.
The New-York Herald saluted him for giving his life while “endeavoring to save [a home] from the devouring element.”
For centuries, firefighters have been honored for their heroism. The creation of a new flag ceremony to mark their passing is another deserved tribute to their selflessness and sacrifices.