By HARRY FRANKLIN
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
In a ceremony worthy of royalty, Harris County’s first firefighter to die in the line of duty was laid to rest Thursday with full firefighter honors.
A near overflow crowd at East Highland United Methodist Church came to honor Ellerslie Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Kevin Joe Foster, 41, and pay respects to his family. He died Saturday while driving a fire truck that crashed on the way to a blaze. Foster, a medical technician at St. Francis Hospital who had been a firefighter more than 17 years -- following in the steps of his father -- died as he lived, trying to help others.
As members of his fire department listened from the choir loft, Foster’s pastor, the Rev. Dan Gates, reminded family, friends and co-workers that “Kevin’s just fine today.”
“One of these days I’m going to fly over the mountain, one of these days.” The words filled the church sanctuary as a recorded song was played. "... One of these days I’m going to see my savior face to face... One of these days we’ll hold the key to the mansion prepared for me.” ** “The question I have heard most in the last few days is, ‘Why?’ ” said Gates. “ ‘Why is it that a good man had to leave us?’ None of us will know this side of heaven... Those who do right are being taken away from evil and find peace and rest.”
One message the pastor said he has heard repeatedly is that Kevin Foster was a good man.
“I can’t think of a better compliment than to say he was a good man,” said Gates. “A man who could be trusted, whose standards were high. I heard Rory say to Kevin at the funeral home, ‘As I rode through Ellerslie and saw all the signs saying ‘Pray for the Foster family,’ I was proud to be your brother.’ ”
At a recent women’s conference, Gates said he heard Kevin’s wife, Stephanie Foster, talk about how good a husband and friend he was, during the hard times and good times.
“Kevin was a good daddy and will always be Poppy to those kids,” the pastor said. He urged family and friends to never let the two young children forget their father.
“He still is here, in the deepest part of our hearts, our Christian faith reminds us,” he said. “Kevin is well.”
As the long caravan to Parkhill Cemetery passed through several major intersections, Columbus Fire and EMS trucks blocked traffic as firefighters and emergency workers stood in salute.
The sight of a string of 17 fire and emergency trucks, their lights flashing, inching toward the cemetery was sobering. As the caravan entered the cemetery, vehicles passed beneath crossed ladders of two Columbus ladder trucks. Most of Harris County’s fire departments sent trucks.
Foster’s casket arrived at the gravesite borne on Antioch Volunteer Fire Department Engine 101, following two bagpipers and a drummer marching and playing hymns. Two long lines of firefighters from Harris, surrounding counties, neighboring cities and states formed near the gravesite, standing at attention as the casket and family arrived. A band of black tape was wrapped around their badges.
As the graveside service neared a close, firefighters removed the American flag draping his casket, carefully folded it and presented it to his widow. Stephanie Foster, who works for Vista Care Hospice, also was presented her husband’s fire helmet, No. 322. Firefighters fired three rounds from rifles to remember their fallen comrade, honoring him for his service and leadership.
The ceremony concluded with the ringing of a bell four times, signaling that Capt. Foster has completed his task.