The first recorded Washington State Line of Duty Death of a firefighter was on March 9th, 1891 when Seattle Firefighter Herman Larson was killed in a training accident on a peer. Since that time 234 Washington State Firefighters have died in the line of duty. On June 5th, 1991 Seattle Firefighter Donald Perry was the first presumptive cancer death. Now, every year we gather around the state to lay to rest a fellow firefighter who has paid the ultimate price for their dedication, courage, and bravery. Once a year on the first Sunday of June in Olympia, the Washington State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service honors these heroes by placing a memorial ribbon upon a pike pole where they hang as a memorial to their memory so that we will never forget.
Small memorials dot the landscape of our state, local memorials that hold sacred the names of their local heroes. A granite rock with a brass plate is located at the State Fire Training Center in North Bend. All of these are fitting memorials, but our State has no place that we can gather and see these 234 names in one place.
The Washington State Fallen Firefighters Foundation was created to facilitate the building of a permanent memorial where these names can be inscribed in stone. A memorial that captures the honor and the reverence these man and women deserve for their lives of service. The Foundation's role is to develop this memorial and maintain its care. This memorial will be the place we can all gather from across the state to add the names of our fallen, to remember each of their lives and how they lived. A place to honor their families and stand together with them to encourage and support them in their time of loss.
The Washington State Fallen Firefighters Foundation also supports the work of the Local Assistant State Team (LAST) to support the department and the family of a fallen firefighter. The LAST Team is made up of funeral and ceremony subject matter experts and will walk alongside a department as they plan a fitting funeral for the fallen firefighter. LODD service is extremely complex and detailed orientated that have to be planned during times of extreme crisis. The resources the foundation and the LAST Team can provide will make the difference in the world during these times.
The Washington State Fallen Firefighters Foundation needs your help. The logistics that go into building a memorial on the grounds of the state capital are immense. There is a large financial obligation as well. The foundation is financially responsible for the design, building, and maintenance of the memorial. Not only are we looking for people willing to help with the logistical work, but we are looking for financial donors as well. Whether it be individuals or corporate donors, the need is there. There are several ways to give so that the Washington State Fallen Firefighters Memorial can become a reality. Information on how to donate can be found online at www.wsfff.org or by contacting the State Chiefs Association or the State Council of Firefighters.