Palm Bay Joins In Firefighter Memorial Tribute
By Space Coast Daily // October 6, 2013
'Bells across America' CEREMONY
ABOVE VIDEO: “Bells Across America” is a special ceremony held by firefighters during the annual Firefighters Memorial Weekend which is October 5 – 6 this year at the National Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA —Palm Bay Fire-Rescue joined thousands of firefighters across the nation on Saturday in a special memorial tribute to all firefighters that lost their lives in the line of duty.
“Bells Across America” is a special ceremony held by firefighters during the annual Firefighters Memorial Weekend which is October 5 – 6 this year at the National Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
The local ceremony featured Palm Bay Fire-Rescue’s 6-man honor guard, raising and lowering the flag to half-staff, tolling of the bell and bagpipes in honor of the fallen firefighters including Palm Bay Fire-Rescue Captain Mike Marcinik who died in May 2007 and Driver/Engineer Jeff Burgin who died in June 2012.
“The ringing of the bells has a powerful meaning to firefighters,” said District Chief Glen Martin.
“Not only do the bells signal the beginning or end of a call, they also are used to notify department members that one of their own had died while serving the community.”
According to the U.S. Fire Administration there were 83 line-of-duty deaths in all of 2012. So far in 2013, 81 firefighters have lost their lives while serving their communities, 19 of which were killed in one day in Prescott, Arizona while battling a wildfire.
CEREMONY HELD AT STATION 1
The local memorial ceremony was held at Palm Bay Fire-Rescue Station 1 on Port Malabar Boulevard and hosted both current and retired members of the department along with special guests including retired members of FDNY.
