EMMITSBURG, Md. —Thousands of firefighters, families and friends gathered over the weekend to honor 87 firefighters who died in line of duty for the 34th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
Due to the inclement weather in the Mid-Atlantic region, the service changed locations from the grounds of the National Fire Academy to Mount St. Mary’s University.
“Throughout the country, bells like you just heard are being rung in firehouses, places of worship and at community gatherings,” said Chief Dennis Compton, chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s board of directors.
Readings, songs and other tributes filled the three-hour service. Other weekend activities included a candlelight church service and luncheon.
President Barack Obama spoke at the service and presented American flags to survivors, where he offered hugs to the children of fallen firefighters and reminded the audience of how many kids said they wished to grow up and be firefighters.
“Imagine what it takes to put on that heavy coat, and that helmet, and override the natural human instinct for self-preservation and run into danger as others are running away,” President Obama said. He called firefighting among the most selfless things a person can do.
Of those honored, 84 were firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2014; three other firefighters died in previous years. President Obama chose three to focus on. He paid tribute to 28-year-old Michael “Mikey” Garrett of West Virginia, who was pulling a seriously injured utility worker out of the way when a cellphone tower came crashing down on top of him.
“His mom, Faith, says Mikey was always smiling, always a practical joker — if you turned around, your cellphone would be in the pool,” Obama said. “And he was always the guy you could call in a pinch.”
He also talked about Hartford, Conn. firefighter Kevin Bell, who died fighting a house fire when his tank ran out of air.
“Because of the role model Kevin was, there are African-American kids in his Hartford neighborhood who want to be firefighters just like him,” Obama said. “And one day, they’ll be able to go to work in the Kevin Lamont Bell Fire Station.”
President Obama also talked about Malcolm Jenkins, a farmer-turned-firefighter, from Louisville, Ky. He died while on duty of a heart attack.
“He was the guy who could fix anything, which his wife Sharon says taught his three daughters an important lesson: marry a man who can fix everything that you break,” he said.
So far this year, 65 firefighters have died in the line of duty.
Survivors of each of the fallen firefighters were presented with an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.