By Elaine M. Avallone
The Carthage Republican Tribune
HARRISVILLE, N.Y. — Each year, firefighters from across the state who have given the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty are honored by having their names inscribed on the Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Albany.
The memorial, established in 1997 in the Empire State Plaza, includes a paved plaza of charcoal and red brick pavers forming a Maltese Cross, a symbol for firefighters. A cast bronze sculpture depicting two firefighters rescuing an injured firefighter was unveiled in 1998. A granite wall on which the names of the fallen are inscribed was added the following year. During Fire Prevention Week, each year names are added. As of Oct. 9, there are 2,372 names on the wall at the rear of the sculpture.
This year, Frederic P. Smith, former chief of the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department, was added.
Mr. Smith died during the department’s response to a fire May 9, 1972.
The Rev. Samuel P. Lundy was instrumental in ensuring Mr. Smith was remembered on the Fallen Firefighter Memorial. Following the 2011 memorial ceremony, Rev. Lundy, a member of the state Association of Fire Chaplains, realized Mr. Smith was not included in the memorial.
Since Rev. Lundy had been present, he knew of the circumstances of the firefighter’s death despite the lack of records available through the fire department.
In his affidavit to the memorial’s selection committee, a division of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Rev. Lundy recounted Mr. Smith’s death.
The department had responded to a fire at the Twin Maples Snack Bar on State Route 3, about one mile west of the village of Harrisville.
“The fire was in the kitchen area and was soon knocked down, allowing us to be in the building. I did not see Chief Federic Smith collapse,” Rev. Lundy stated. Although he admits he was untrained by today’s standards, he was called upon to attempt resuscitation. At the time, he was a member of the Army Reserve Medical Service Corp and had operated an ambulance service.
“I believe he was dead immediately,” Rev. Lundy said. Mr. Smith’s death of an apparent heart attack was later confirmed by Dr. Richard L. Neil.
After an enlistment in the Navy, Mr. Smith began teaching industrial arts at Harrisville Central School in 1959 and was appointed as vice principal in 1966. Mr. Smith and his wife, the former Jean Reader, had four daughters — Sheri, Shelley, Sandra and Susan. Mr. Smith was also a town justice.
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