WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — Hundreds gathered at Lincoln High School on Saturday for the Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Fire Alarm and Roll Call Ceremony.
“This is probably the final ceremony that they’ll see of their loved ones name being read, the bell being tolled,” Milwaukee Fire Lt. and funeral guard commander, Brent Jones told Newsline 9.
Two firefighters died in the line of duty since the last ceremony, John C. Brocker of the Town of Oneida and Chief Terry Shafer of the Village of Spring Valley.
“He was the Chief in Spring Valley for over 30 years and he’s being recognized as a line of duty death,” Chad Shafer, son of Terry Shafer, said. “His name engraved on the wall is an amazing tribute. The fire service was a huge part of his life and our lives, he was a fire fighter for all our lives, so [this] means a lot.”
“The brotherhood within the fire service is probably one of the strongest I’ve ever seen,” said Lt. Jones. “Nobody takes care of their own the way we do.”
Due to weather, the annual event was moved from the Wisconsin Rapids memorial wall to Lincoln High School. 288 names are engraved on the memorial.
