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| Fallen Firefighters Remembered |
(IRN)-It's a solemn occasion when hundreds of firefighters from around Illinois gather in Springfield to remember the fallen. Some wish the memorial weren't an annual event.
The 18th annual fallen firefighter memorial Thursday morning honored nine firemen who lost their lives last year, and also recognized 36 others for outstanding bravery and service. That offers some solace to Round Lake Area firefighter Mike Bloom, who says he wishes he didn't have to come to the ceremony.
"Hopefully we won't have to come down here again next year, although we've already lost two firefighters in Illinois this year, so we have two more names that are going to go up on the wall," he says.
Bloom says he makes a sacrifice every day when he goes to work, and so does his family, Bloom is sometimes at work for days at a time. He encourages communities to stop by their firehouses just to say hi, that'll do wonders to show support and appreciation.
ILLINOIS FIREFIGHTERS KILLED ON DUTY IN 2010
-Firefighter Gary L. Cummins, Brocton Volunteer Fire Protection District
-Firefighter-EMT Corey Ankum, Chicago Fire Department
-Firefighter Edward J. Stringer, Chicago Fire Department
-Firefighter-Paramedic Christopher Wheatley, Chicago Fire Department
-Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Innes, Hindsboro Fire Department
-Deputy Chief Mark Johnson, Hinsdale Fire Department
-Firefighter-Paramedic Brian Colin Carey, Homewood Fire Department
-Lt. Frank Fouts V, Kankakee Fire Department
-Firefighter Kurt Meusel, Scales-Mounds Fire Department |
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| 05 12 11 by Newsroom |
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