Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The Last Alarm


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THE LAST ALARM

The fire helmet atop folded protective coat and empty boots stand larger than life-size as the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial.

On the day of the funeral of a fallen fire fighter, a helmet, coat, and boots are arranged in this manner in front of a firehouse on the route of the funeral cortege. As the procession passes, the assembled fire fighters come to attention for a final salute to their fallen comrade. The empty turnout gear not only represents the missing fire fighter, but also the feelings of loss all fire fighters share with the family and friends of the fallen comrade.

Many statues have been created displaying fire fighters in action and rescue situations. Certainly these are a fitting tribute to the heroic service of all members of the fire service, but the Milwaukee Fallen Fire Fighter Committee wanted the focus to be on those who have died in the line-of-duty. The committee feels this traditional display of shared loss creates that focus.

Fire Fighter Memorial Committee and the City of Milwaukee, Department of Public Works-Support Services Division. The entire Memorial area is a blend of traditional and modern elements. Constructed next to the Milwaukee Fire Department Headquarters, the bronze sculpture situated in front of a historic engine house entrance was designed to symbolically represent the history of Fallen Firefighters.

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(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. )

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