Dan Scanlan
The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Exactly 134 years ago this week, Jacksonville firefighter Henry J. Bradley died in the line of duty.
That tragedy was remembered as Lt. Pam Ramsdelle read out his name Tuesday at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial at Fire Station 1, the “Last Alarm Roll Call” for him followed by a huge bell tolling behind her to memorialize that Dec. 16, 1885, death.
Then that bell rang out 21 more times for the other firefighters who died in the line of duty since Bradley. The last was for Engineer Neal Tarkington, a 43-year-old special-operations member of Ladder 4 who died of a heart attack after leaving the station on Oct. 11, 2008.
As a huge American flag flew suspended between the extended towers of two ladder trucks in front of the station, Fire Chief Keith Powers joined dozens of uniformed firefighters, engineers, paramedics and others to remember those he called the “22 heroes on that wall.”
“These men, the men who gave all for this city, are forever memorialized on this wall. And every year they will be honored and remembered for their sacrifice,” Powers said. " ... I know today is a day of sadness for these surviving family members, but I hope that there is some comfort knowing our heroes, the names on this wall, will forever be enshrined as Jacksonville Fire and Rescue’s greatest.”
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department annually gathers at Station No. 1 to memorialize those lost to duty. The surviving families of those dead are brought to the station at 600 N. Liberty St. from the fire union hall on Stockton Street, each led in by firefighters in dress uniform as others stand at attention nearby.
Behind the families, 22 current firefighters held helmets bearing the names of those lost on duty, exchanged later for plaques bearing each one’s name. Those plaques will now hang at Station 4,. where the last firefighter to die on duty was stationed.
The ceremony began with music from the fire department’s Pipe and Drums Corps, as department chaplain Percy Golden reminded the audience that those 22 men are “gone, but never forgotten.”
Lt. Pam Ramsdell (at podium) reads the “Last Alarm Roll Call,” the names of the 22 Jacksonville firefighters killed in the line of duty since 1885. After each name, the huge bell was tolled in their memory, their names adorning the plaques held by firefighters behind her.
Photo/Dan Scanlan, Florida Times-Union
The memorial wall was dedicated June 29, 1987, when only 14 names were on it. Its 3,000-pound bell once topped an early 20th century City Hall, then now-retired firefighter Wayne Doolittle found it abandoned in 1986 in a city storage room. His father, volunteer firefighter Charlie Doolittle, suggested its use in a firefighter memorial.
“He said, ‘You know son, you should look into maybe having a service for firefighters killed in the line of duty.’ Then I just happened to stumble upon this bell,” Wayne Doolittle remembered. " ... This is quite an honor to participate in this every year. I haven’t missed one yet.”
Mayor Lenny Curry presented a proclamation declaring Tuesday as Firefighter Memorial Day, thanking the families for the sacrifice the men and women of the department make “on any given day.”
“To the families, this city loves and embraces you, wraps our arms around you. Thank you for your sacrifice,” Curry said. “I would also say to all members of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue and their families, we appreciate you.”
Powers said he prayed every day that no more names will be added to the brick wall, but realized there’s is a dangerous profession for the 1,500 who serve in it.
“Death can happen in a fire; it can happen in an accident; it can happen due to exposure to carcinogens, or from a vicious attack while transporting a patient,” he said. “The men and women of JFRD are part of the select few who chose to serve others no matter the cost.”
The ceremony ended as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office gave a rifle salute surrounded, then taps was played before the fire department’s Pipes and Drums’ rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
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©2019 The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.)