JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hundreds of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue personnel marched through the streets of downtown Tuesday morning to honor 22 fallen firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The off-duty firefighters in their dress uniforms marched for JFRD's annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial March, also known as the Sea of Blue. Last year's memorial was canceled due to Hurricane Matthew.
For Chief Kurt Wilson, honoring the 22 firefighters whose names are on the wall at Fire Station 1 is extremely important. He said having the community's support is everything, and should another name be added to the wall, that person will never be forgotten.
"We're not going to forget you. We're not going to forget your family. We're going to show love and support," Wilson said. "You know, you look into the families' eyes and you still see pain. You know and there are some that still, even back from 2000, that still have not recovered. The pain is fresh."
The last Jacksonville firefighter on-duty death occurred in 2008. Wilson hopes that is the last time they have to add a name to the department's memorial wall.
JFRD's Pipes and Drums Band and Honor Guard led the march from the Jacksonville Landing, north on Hogan Street, past City Hall to Fire Station No. 1 on Liberty Street, where a ceremony included the reading of the names and dates of Jacksonville firefighters who have died protecting their community.
Carol Benton's brother, Leon, died in 1990 at the age of 31.
"Me and my brother were really close," she said. "He would fight for the end. He was always there for the public."
Benton was pregnant with her son at the time, and he has now followed in his uncle's footsteps.
Nicole Delaney's husband has been a firefighter for one year. She said she’s very proud of her husband and prays that he gets home everyday.
"It's definitely tough. It your partner, your spouse," Delaney said. "You get up every morning you just pray that they come home safe, and when they do, it's a rejoicing time."
The fallen
Henry J. Bradley was the first Jacksonville firefighter to die in the line of duty. Mr. Bradley was killed Dec. 16, 1885, when a blazing wall collapsed on him as he fought a fire that engulfed businesses, warehouses and wharves along several blocks of Bay Street in downtown. His death led to a movement among Jacksonville's insurance companies that had suffered losses in the fire to create a paid fire department. On July 15, 1886, the City Council created the Jacksonville Fire Department.
Sam L. Varnes was crushed to death under Engine 2 March 1, 1927, after being thrown from the apparatus as it skidded on the wet pavement and crashed into a pole at Eighth Street and Tallyrand Avenue while rushing to a fire.
Harry L. Graves was killed June 30, 1933, when the Station 4, Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2 truck on which he was riding was broadsided at Davis and Church streets by Fire Engine No. 7 rushing to the same fire. Mr. Graves, riding on the right running board, was directly in the path of the engine as it crashed. Six other firemen were injured, three seriously, in the department's worst crash in its history.
Jerman J. Williams was shot and killed March 21, 1934, while attempting to flag down a driver to keep him from running over a fire hose that was providing water to a house fire at Johnson and State streets. Ironically, Mr. Williams, the son-in-law of Fire Chief W.Q. Dowling, had taken the place of Harry Graves on Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2 at Station 4, rode in the same seat and even used his locker. Mr. Graves was killed in a crash involving two fire engines in 1933.
William E. Holloway was killed Dec. 24, 1943, in a collision with another automobile at Church and Ocean streets downtown as he was driving Fire Chief George E. Hare to a church fire. The collision caused the department vehicle to veer into a heavy pole, and Mr. Holloway, the chief's chauffeur, was pinned inside. Chief Hare also was injured in the accident.
Asst. Fire Chief James R. Romedy died of a heart attack Dec. 29, 1963, while attempting to rescue trapped guests from the 10th and 11th floors during the Roosevelt Hotel fire. Twenty one guests died in Jacksonville's deadliest fire, while 479 were rescued from the smoke-filled hotel.
Dillard D. Pinkston died May 22, 1967, of an apparent heart attack while reeling in a hose after extinguishing a garage fire on Mackinaw Street in Woodstock Park.
Arthur W. Hutt, a 15-year-old junior fireman with the Mandarin Volunteer Fire Department, was killed May 1, 1968, when he and a large sign he was holding down were blown off the back of a Mandarin Volunteer Fire Department truck on State Road 13. Firemen were taking the 4-by-6-foot sign advertising the department's annual fund-raising barbecue to the intersection of State Road 13 and Beauclerc Road.
Walter W. Flowers was killed Dec. 25, 1968, when he was thrown from Engine 13 after it was struck by a Florida East Coast train at an Atlantic Boulevard crossing. Engine 13 was en route to a Southside fire at the time of the accident, and Mr. Flowers had been riding on the tailboard. Three other firefighters were injured in the accident.
Lt. Newton Eugene Johnson was overcome by heat and smoke and died Aug. 6, 1970, when the roof of an A&P Supermarket at San Juan and Hershel streets collapsed while he was fighting a fire inside. It was his first day as a roving officer assigned to Engine 14. Johnson was posthumopusly honored as the Fireman of the Year.
Capt. Leon J. King Jr. died of an apparent heart attack Sept. 3, 1975, at the scene of a kitchen fire on Lotus Road. After the fire had been knocked down, King took off his mask and went back inside to help with overhaul work. He then walked outside and collapsed.
Glen A. Miley was killed Dec. 18, 1975, when he struck his head on the pavement after losing his balance and falling off a fire truck as it made a turn at Ribault Scenic Drive and Forrest Hills Road. Firefighters were responding to a minor heater fire on Ramsgate Street at the time. Miley was a volunteer firefighter.
Ronald H. Jones was struck by a car Sept 18, 1976, as he walked back to his car after helping extinguish a woods fire off 103rd Street. The volunteer firefighter died of his injuries.
Lt. Joseph F. Stichway was killed May 25, 1979, while attempting to rescue workers trapped in the hull of a burning oil barge at the Jacksonville Shipyards. Overwhelmed by gas fumes, Stichway fell off a 40-foot ladder as he was rushing to reach the workers and lead them to safety. He was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal, the fire department's highest honor. Twenty-one firefighters and six barge crewmen were injured in the fire.
William E. Albritton died of a heart attack Aug. 16, 1986, shortly after leaving work at Station 27.
Edgar A. Cowart drowned Nov. 6, 1986, when he was trapped under an overturned fire rescue boat that had struck a bridge piling while answering a distress call near the Hart Bridge. Marine 3 was responding to a call for help from a tugboat at the time of the accident.
Leon L. Benton died from a heart attack Dec. 27, 1990, after collapsing during a basketball game at Fire Station 1. Benton, who played on the department's basketball team, was working overtime at the time training for a state basketball tournament for fire department teams.
District Rescue Chief Roger H. Taylor died of a heart attack May 16, 2000, shortly after leaving the station. Taylor, a paramedic, was a member of the first class of firefighters to complete their training after Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated governments.
Lt. Glenn A. Rodgers died of a heart attack July 3, 2000, shortly after leaving work at Station 22.
Lt. Nolen A. Sauls died Aug. 7, 2000, of a heart attack shortly after leaving work at Station 28.
Recruit Karl Kramer died of complications from heatstroke May 28, 2005, nine days after collapsing during a two-mile training run at the Fire Rescue Training Academy. The son of a Jacksonville firefighter, Mr. Kramer was just two weeks away from graduating from the academy.
Neal Tarkington had more than dozen years on the job before he passed away October 11, 2008, at age 43, just a few hours after coming home from a busy shift at Fire Station 4. Tarkington is remembered for his attention to detail, a keen ability to mentor as well as his sense of humor.
