Gov. Mike Parson dedicates the weekend to honor fallen Missouri firefighters
KINGDOM CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
In honor of the fallen Missouri firefighters, the Missouri Capitol will be illuminated in red from sunset on Saturday until sunrise on Sunday.
The Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri hosted a candlelight vigil at the memorial on Saturday night to pay tribute to all the deceased firefighters who lost their lives while on duty.
Keith Smith, Foundation Chairman, said over a hundred names will be recognized Saturday.
"Tonight is the candlelight service where we honor firefighters who have passed. We're recognizing 118 names, three of whom died in the line of duty." Smith said.
The remaining 115 firefighters passed from other causes in 2023, although some deaths may later be determined as line-of-duty fatalities. This is the case for two of the three firefighters being added to the monument wall Sunday.
The Missouri Firefighters Memorial Board approved the additions to the wall following the confirmation of their 2021 deaths in the line of duty.
One of those three firefighters includes Captain Raymond Wynn of the Kansas City Fire Department, a 32-year veteran, who passed away from occupational cancer contracted in the line of duty on March 27, 2021.
Firefighter Tad Nolan Russell, a 10-year veteran of the Brumley Fire Protection District, passed away due to complications from contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty on Aug. 13, 2021.
Firefighter Lloyd Ruediger, a 59-year veteran of the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District will also be recognized. Ruediger suffered a heart attack following a fire response in the line of duty on June 26, 2023.
In a press release from the city, State Fire Marshal Tim Bean said the services are a way to never forget those who served.
“The fire service is a community built on teamwork, tradition, and trust; when a firefighter falls, we all grieve and come together to ensure that they are honored and remembered and to support the member’s loved ones," the statement reads.
Gov. Mike Parson declared Sunday, Oct. 6 as Fire Service Memorial Day in Missouri.
According to the press release, Parson said the service is a way to show gratitude toward those who died.
“We are all grateful to all our reliable, dedicated responders. We can never repay the debt we owe to the heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their fellow citizens, but we must never forget and always honor their memory," the statement reads.
Sunday's service is at 10:30 a.m. at the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City.
