Local Firefighters Attend The 17th Annual Iowa Fire Fighters Memorial

Oskaloosa Fire Department members are as follows: Mark Tennison(left) Shane Glandon(second from left) James Gillespie(third from left) Scott Howard(far right) Keith Brooks(center) (photo submitted)

Oskaloosa Firefighters pay tribute to other firefighters.

Local Firefighters Mark Tennison, Shane Glandon, James Gillespie, Scott Howard, and Keith Brooks were on hand at the Annual Iowa Fire Fighters Memorial in Coralville, Iowa. For the 17th year now, firefighters from all around the state gather to honor those lost.

This year an I-Beam from the World Trade Center was dedicated at the site, making this years tradition different than years past.With the I-Beam in place, the spirit of service and sacrifice from that day is carried to one more place. 343 firefighters paid the ultimate price that day, but the service put in by local firefighters when answering a call for help is no different. One hundred and thirty-eight Iowa firefighters have paid with their lives to help save others.

Here are some local heroes who have paid the ultimate price:

• Elvin Thompson – Sigourney Fire Department (1973)
• Bruce Jacobs – Sigourney Fire Department (1973)
• Dixie Lee Steckelberg – Lovilia Fire Department (2003)
• Oscar Roland – What Cheer Fire Department (1933)
• William Philips – What Cheer Fire Department (1933)
• Marvin Bodeman – What Cheer Fire Department (1933)
• Lloyd King – Deep River Fire Department (1947)

If I missed someone please let me know.

Honor guards from all over the state, both full time and volunteers, helped in the ceremony. With the support of their families, five local firefighters had recently spent a day in Ottumwa training to become part of the Iowa Honor Guard Team.

Honor Guards are there to help at the Firefighter Memorial, as well as assist with casket duty, and other formal affairs at the funeral of a lost firefighter. This helps with smaller departments that may not have enough people to help in a time such as that.

The Honor Guard would also stand watch over the casket during visitations if the firefighter was lost in the line of duty, or a long-time retired firefighter passed away after years of service. Currently Oskaloosa firefighter Scott Howard is a member of the Honor Guard. The position takes great dedication, not only in time but in making sure that the Honor Guard member is prepared by making sure their equipment is in top condition. The cost of the equipment for them can be nearly $1,000.00.

The team is being formed by Battalion Chief John Pulver from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. This team will be more formal in nature with scheduled training and meetings during the year.

The memorial was dedicated in 1994 and is located North of I-80 in Coralville, Iowa.. The ceremony was attended by 2,500 firefighters.