Missouri fire service to memorializes three firefighters at Sunday memorial
KINGDOM CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Fire Fighters Association of Missouri hosted a memorial service on Sunday to remember Missouri firefighters who have died in the line of duty and to commemorate three Missouri firefighters who have died.
Gov. Mike Parson declared Sunday, Oct. 6 as Fire Service Memorial Day in Missouri and dedicated the weekend to fallen Missouri firefighters.
The Missouri Firefighters Memorial Board approved adding three names to the Wall of Honor following the confirmation of their 2021 deaths in the line of duty.
The first of the three firefighters is 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.
The ceremony featured speeches from Roxy Cooper, widow of the late Corporal Ben Cooper who died in the line of duty, and Officer Rick Hirshey who was at the scene during Cooper's death.
"Everyone thinks police officers and firefighters don't get along, but the truth is, it's actually more like a sibling rivalry, we pick on the firefighters, they pick on us," Hirshey said. "But in the end, it's good-natured fun because in the end, we all wade into chaos together as a team."
Over 100 Other Missouri firefighters who passed away through a non-line of duty death were also remembered during the ceremony.
"They claim that you actually pass twice at life, once when the physical body gives up, the second time when people start to stop talking about your name." Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri Chairman Keith Smith said. "For this location, which is hallowed ground, that name, those names will be forever remembered."
The service also featured the Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten and State Fire Marshal Tim Bean.
Leaders of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri, families and friends of those who died and firefighters from across Missouri were in attendance.
