The 2008 California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony
(SACRAMENTO) Uniformed firefighters, family members and dignitaries from throughout California came together Saturday in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price to protect the lives and property of Californians.
In a solemn ceremony featuring a procession of uniformed firefighters and presentations to family members, 26 firefighters who fell in the line of duty were added to the California Firefighters Memorial. Located in historic Capitol Park, adjoining the California State Capitol in Sacramento, the Memorial carries the names of more than 1,000 firefighters who died in service since California became a state in 1850. This year, the Memorial marks its fifth anniversary.
"The 26 men we honor today are as much a part of California's heritage as the richly historic park in which we stand," said Lou Paulson, President of California Professional Firefighters and Chair of the California Fire Foundation. "As we honor their sacrifice, we take comfort that they will not be forgotten, and that their example will serve as a beacon, showing the meaning of honor, duty, commitment and courage."
Included among the names added to the Memorial Saturday was that of Brent Lovrien, who died earlier this year in a devastating explosion near Los Angeles International Airport. Also honored were two men whose deaths were linked to this summer's devastating sequence of lightning storms - Kevin Pryor of Newport Beach and Robert Roland of Anderson Valley.
Twelve other firefighters who died from traumatic injuries or job-related illnesses in the 13 months since the 2007 Memorial Ceremony were also honored, as well as 11 firefighters from earlier years whose status as line-of-duty deaths was recently verified by the California Fire Foundation, the non-profit foundation that built and maintains the Memorial.
Family members and colleagues of the 26 honorees were in attendance at the ceremony, along with those from firefighters already immortalized on the polished limestone Memorial Wall. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to the gathered family members and to the uniformed firefighters who attended to pay their respects. Also speaking was Luis Aldana, who was a friend and colleague of fallen firefighter Brent Lovrien.
"The loss of a fellow firefighter in the line of duty is never easy to accept, as it makes us reflect on our own mortality and really take a look at what we ask our families to accept when we take an oath to serve our communities," said Aldana. "This memorial serves to commemorate our fallen brothers and sisters, and also to honor the sacrifice of the families they have left behind."
The centerpiece of the moving ceremony is the presentation of flags to the families, friends and representatives of every one of the 26 individuals being honored. The tribute also features a solemn uniformed firefighter procession and the traditional "Last Alarm" ceremony, in which a fire bell is rung to signify a fallen firefighter's final call to duty.
Unveiled in April of 2002, the California Firefighters Memorial features two statues and a dramatic Memorial Wall on which the names of 1,063 fallen firefighters are engraved. One statue - "Holding The Line" - depicts four firefighters in action, while the other - "Fallen Brother" - shows a single firefighter carrying a fallen colleague away from danger. "Fallen Brother" was designed and sculpted by Sacramento firefighter Jesus Romo. The Memorial was created without any state funding through private contributions to the California Fire Foundation. Most of the more than $2 million to build and maintain the Memorial was raised directly from firefighters through the purchase of special firefighter license plates and a state tax check-off.
California Professional Firefighters (CPF) represents 30,000 career firefighters and emergency medical service personnel. It has nearly 150 affiliated local unions, and is the State Council for the International Association of Fire Fighters. The California Fire Foundation is the non-profit organization created by CPF in 1987 to aid the families of fallen firefighters and promote fire safety in California.
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