The weekend of October 5-6 was National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend. Bells rang across the nation to honor those firefighters who died in the line of duty for 2018, and previous years, as firefighters joined the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) in the 8th Annual Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters as part of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Shady Grove Fire & Rescue hosted a Bells Across America ceremony in Jones County on Saturday, October 5 inside their station at the intersection of Highway 15 North and Spring Hill Road with Shady Grove Fire Chief David Houston leading the ceremony. In addition to the ringing of the bell, a “Missing Man Table of Honor” was set up.
The ringing of the bells has a special meaning for firefighters. Years ago, a gong sounded to signal all firefighters to the station, to alert other departments their assistance was needed, and to signify that the task was completed and all had returned to the station. When a firefighter died in the line of duty, a series of bells were sounded informing others that a comrade had made the ultimate sacrifice. This tradition continues today and can be heard during funerals and memorial service.
Reverend Andre Thornton, a member of the Shady Grove Fire & Rescue, began the ceremony with a prayer followed by the singing of the national anthem by Jessica Watts, also a member of the department, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by her son Bryce Watts.
Shady Grove Fire & Rescue President Danny Avery spoke briefly saying, “Firefighters are the ones running in while others are running out.”
Andy Fredrick, a member of the Shady Grove Fire & Rescue, lit the candle on the “Missing Man Table of Honor” and Houston read the poem which describes the items set in place.
Dusty Simpson with Shady Grove Fire & Rescue rang the bell three times in memory those who have fallen. In Jones County, there have been two firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty: Clarence Hinton was the fire chief for the Hebron Volunteer Fire Department when he was killed in a fire apparatus rollover accident, and Sally Rene Clark, who was a member of the Pleasant Ridge Volunteer Fire Department when she died of a heart attack after a training exercise.
Houston also read the names of Shady Grove Fire & Rescue firefighters who have passed away over the years including Tom Harper – 1911, Jimmy Grafton – 1992, Rudy McLain – 1998, and Norman Larry Johnson – 2018. He also mentioned Cindy Shoemake who was a member of Sharon VFD who passed away in 2016.
After the playing of TAPS, the ceremony ended with a musical medley of “Go Rest High on That Mountain” and “Amazing Grace."