Firefighters and other emergency services personnel from around the region, with special guest Gov. Bob McDonnell, gathered in Williamsburg on Wednesday to remember their fallen and honor those who serve in a ceremony at the city’s community building.
Remarks from McDonnell and Williamsburg Fire Chief W. Pat Dent reflected on 10 current and former fire and EMS workers in the state of Virginia who have recently died, including one in James City County. Eldridge L. Canady Jr., known as “Buster” by friends and family, died in Nov. 2011. He retired from the James City County Fire Department in 2008 with more than 30 years of service.
“If you forget the heroes who came before you, that makes it harder to train and recruit and motivate the best and the brightest of our current generation to come into the professional and volunteer fire service and EMS in the future,” McDonnell said. “That’s why commemorations like today are so very important, so that we do not forget the real lives and the real faces and the real families that suffered during this past year.”
The event was the fifth and final ceremony in the inaugural Fire and EMS Memorial Week in Virginia. The week was established by McDonnell to remember firefighters and EMS personnel who have died. Wednesday’s ceremony came right before the beginning of a regular meeting between Hampton Roads and Richmond Metro fire chiefs.
“You’ve surrounded yourself and helped to recruit and train and motivate and now lead some of the finest public servants we have anywhere in this country,” McDonnell said. “Unfortunately every year we have this kind of commemoration where we have to grieve with families and salute those who have paid the ultimate price for serving the public in this dangerous way. Regardless of whether you’re a professional or a volunteer, all of you do immense, great work for our citizens.”
The ceremony attracted other public figures, including Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker, Del. Mike Watson (R-93rd District), Williamsburg Mayor Clyde Haulman, Williamsburg City Manager Jack Tuttle and James City County Supervisor John McGlennon.
There are about 125,171 firefighters and EMS personnel in the state of Virginia.
