WASHINGTON — As many people pause on this Memorial Day to honor our fallen war heroes at our nation's memorials, there is another group of service members whose ultimate sacrifice still does not have a permanent memorial.
But that will change starting Tuesday ahead of DC’s Fire Fighter Memorial Day. Memorial helmets will be installed throughout the city, honoring the D.C. firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Driving to the scene of a fire to save lives; for DC Fire Capt. Dennis Carmody, it is more than a job it is a calling of service and sacrifice.
“Firefighters are on duty 24 hours a day and some of our firefighters who came to work never made it home to see their families,” Carmody said.
Since 1856, 102 D.C. firefighters died in the line of duty. Now for the first time, their ultimate sacrifice will be honored through the installation of memorial helmets at locations throughout the city where they lost their lives.
Carmody gave WUSA9 an exclusive look at the memorial ahead of the installation ceremony.
“The helmet above is memorial dedicated to firefighter Jon Williams of Rescue Squad 1, who fell through a roof and died while searching for reportedly trapped victims," said Carmody as he read one plaque.
The gray helmets will be hung at light posts, with plaques attached. A QR code brings you to the DC Fire and EMS Foundation website where you can learn more about the fallen firefighter.
"These memorial helmets will be a powerful reminder to people walking by and members of the community of the sacrifice that they and their family made," explained Amy Mauro the foundation’s executive director.
“On May 6, 2015, we lost a close friend, phenomenal officer, unbelievable firefighter, Lt. Kevin McCrae,” said Carmody as he choked up with emotion. “At 1330 7th Street, NW. After he was killed, someone anonymously painted a fire helmet gray and hung it from a lamp post in front of that building.”
That single tribute inspired the project. And since then, the captain said they have been collecting old helmets, raising money, and sponsorships. Over the next several months, 102 gray helmets will be installed to honor D.C.'s fallen firefighters, including the five who died at 8th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW back in 1896 – the department's greatest loss of life in a single incident.
For Carmody, the 9-year project is a labor of love and a personal salute to the heroes of the DC Fire and EMS, past and present.
“I'm really proud that we are keeping these firefighters' memories from being forgotten. It gives families and fellow firefighters an opportunity to recognize and remember privately the loss of our family members,” said Carmody as he fought back emotion. “It gives us comfort in knowing that if we ever are in situation where we pay the ultimate price that our sacrifice won't be forgotten either.”