Hello from District 2. Everyone in our area has been busy these last couple months. I hope you got to attend the 2017 Missouri Firefighter Memorial Services May 20-21, in Kingdom City. It was a very special event, honoring four line of duty deaths and many firefighters that have since past away. It was also special that seventeen firefighters from Germany also attended. Thanks to everyone that made it possible. Mark your calendar for May 19-20, 2018, for the 2018 Missouri Firefighter Memorial.
Also mark your calendar for Saturday, August 12, 2017, as the state fair will be doing a “Salute to our Heroes” on opening weekend. That Saturday law enforcement, firefighters, EMT’s and paramedics, with identification will receive free gate admission to the Missouri State Fair. Make sure you stop by the fire station and say hello. Military will be honored on Sunday.
We extend to the Scotland Missouri Rural Fire Department and Memphis Fire Department our deepest sympathies for the loss of one of their own. 33 year old Firefighter Jesse Ketchum who lost his life while responding to a fire in Scotland County. Our deepest condolence to his wife and family. Please keep them in your prayers. I know I will miss a department, so I am just going to say thank you to all the area fire departments that came or offered to cover the area while the fire department attended the visitations and funeral.
THE MISSOURI FIREFIGHTER HISTORIC AND PRESERVATION CENTER – MUSEUM
As you know the Memorial Foundation has been working toward building a historic and education preservation museum along side the existing memorial for several years. And now that day is fast approaching. Let me explain.
If you were at the Firefighter Memorial Service in May, you may have seen a lot of different color survey flags just West of the memorial. A design has been drawn up, reviewed and fine tuned. It will have a training center, administration offices, lots of storage, and a huge area to display our fire history, including but not limited to old fire trucks, historic papers, equipment, and hopefully at a later date, interactive things for all to do. Now, we need your help!
To help get this project completed we are asking all fire departments and firefighters to jump on board and help make this project happen. There are several ways you can help. I would however like to talk about three ways that you can help, all on www.ffam.org under memorial.
One way that you can help is to write a check for your donation for any amount to the Missouri Firefighter Memorial Foundation and mail it to the address on the website or give it to any memorial or FFAM board member. $10, $50, $1,000, no amount is to small, or to large.
Another way, I did this not too long ago. You can enter anytime the museum is open, at no charge by becoming a “Foot in the Door” member. For $100 you can sponsor a square foot of the museum and have a lifetime admission to the museum at no cost during regular business hours. But best of all, be a part of helping preserve our Missouri fire service heritage. Don’t think for a minute that you can only sponsor one square foot. You can sponsor as many square feet as you wish. $200 sponsors two square feet, $500 donation sponsors five square feet, you get the idea.
The other way I wish to share is that you can “Sponsor a Brick”. You can add your name or a loved one’s name to the Walk of Honor. There are two sizes of bricks to choose from. These sponsorships can be done on the website and takes just a minute of your time.
So, I am asking all fire departments and firefighters, “Let’s make this happen.” With your help we can. That way your kids, your grandkids, and people near and far for years to come can learn and enjoy our Missouri fire heritage.
Thanks for your time. Until next time be safe.
FFAM
