Those professions where death is a part of the job have developed complex rituals for honoring those who have made the sacrifice. The military and the fire department are two of those that I had the pleasure of serving in. You show your respect to the departed by performing the ritual as perfectly as possible.
If you want to see a hundred manly men break out into tears, attend one of those services. For me, it is the fire department last call. Having spent a combined 30 years in the uniforms of the military and the fire department, I attended perhaps a dozen line of duty funerals. The ceremony goes like this:
The deceased firefighter’s truck is taken out of service. His crew spends an entire day emptying the hose bed, cleaning the truck, and draping the insignia and emergency lights with black bunting. His gear is placed in the front passenger seat. When the funeral is over, the casket is loaded into the hose bed of the truck for the ride to the graveside.
A radio and speaker are setup at the graveside. Dispatch calls the missing (dead) firefighter over the radio:
- <Tones sound for station 14>
- Dispatch to firefighter 143.
- Dispatch to firefighter 143.
- Dispatch to firefighter 143.
- “No answer from firefighter 143. Let the record show that 143, firefighter John Smith answered his final call at 1410 on this date. For over ten years, he provided dedicated service to the people of this city. Rest easy brother, we have it from here.”
Then a bagpiper located behind the crowd begins playing “Amazing Grace” as he walks into the distance, the music fading with him. A bugler follows that with Taps. At this point, there is not a dry eye in the place.
I spend my memorial day remembering those who gave their lives in the service of others. I was honored to serve and work besides some of the greatest people that I have ever met, with more than I care to remember having given their lives in the service of the people of this nation.
No greater love hath man, that he who would give his life so that another might live.
14 Comments
@HomeInSC · May 26, 2025 at 8:36 pm
Well said. One’s reasons for serving are not to be questioned. Their service is the whole of the answer.
My sentiments towards the politicians who so cavalierly abuse those in service are an entirely different matter.
Anonymous · May 26, 2025 at 10:29 pm
right on brother
Plague Monk · May 27, 2025 at 5:15 am
I miss the former pastor at the church my wife and me attend in NE Cincinnati. He was a blowhard, and prone to exaggeration, but he was the chaplain for the Cincy FD and one of a few for the PD.
He retired, and the board brought in a younger pastor, with a mandate from the denomination’s leadership to increase the church’s revenue. Nice guy, gun owner, but there are some problems, and this year’s Memorial Day Sunday service highlighted one of them. He has no interest in being a chaplain for the FD or PD, and the church no longer allows funerals for veterans; even members. The only flags in church are from black African countries.
He brought in to speak someone from a charity that does a little in the US, but their focus is on empowering black wimmen in Africa, and why we should be giving more money to them.
It was a dreary 45 minute begathon for money to build new churches and schools for little dindus. Several videos of “successful” women, yada-yada.
Not one mention was made of Memorial Day, and what it stands for(Pastor said nothing for last year’s Veterans Day either). Instead, give money to help dindus in darkest Africa. We’ve had several speakers, all asking for money to help blacks in Africa.
The director of this charity wanted to talk with my wife and I after the service, as we have generously donated to the church while I was working and after I received a large inheritance. I walked away without saying anything, as I did not want to make a scene, but I was seething.
My wife and I are USAF veterans, from just after the Vietnam war. We still remember those who gave all, and we will not forget them as long as we live.
Modern Day Jeremiah · May 27, 2025 at 7:16 am
Sounds like it’s time to find a new church.
Plague Monk · May 28, 2025 at 4:22 am
Jeremiah, we are thinking about doing that, for several reasons. The new pastor is a friendly guy, but there is no accountability as to where the money we give goes. The former pastor was very transparent about how the money collected was spent. The annual business meetings were 2-3 hours, and very detailed.
Now, the last one was only about 10 minutes. My wife tried to raise some issues with regard to both the finances and the church itself(see Laodicea church in the Book of Revelation), and was instantly shut down by the pastor.
We are changing our will, and instead of giving our estate to the church, we are willing everything to the local SPCA.
A new board member is trying to get the church to be more open, and my wife has good friends that she is reluctant to leave. I am somewhat reluctant to leave as I had several visitors from while in the hospital last year after my stupid accident with the nail in my foot and emergency partial amputation.
If no change at next year’s business meeting, we will leave
Vlad the non-Impaler · May 27, 2025 at 11:06 am
“the church no longer allows funerals for veterans; even members.”
WTF? That’s disgusting.
And you still attend? Why? Sounds like he’s WAY more interested in $$$s for Dindus than his own membership. I’d tell him that in front of a full church then never look back.
Plague Monk · May 28, 2025 at 4:32 am
Vlad, please see my reply to Jeremiah above. The pastor says that he is pro gun, but two members of his former church are also fellow members of a specialty gun collector group. They told me not to trust him. He also believes in trying to preach everywhere he goes.
The problem is that too many of the area churches are dindu worshipers. My wife does most of the driving these days, and she doesn’t like driving more than 5 miles at a time.
Jerseygirl Angie · May 27, 2025 at 6:38 am
Details differ, but the narrative was similar at our Church – which is why we are now lapsed Catholics .
Univ of Saigon 68 · May 27, 2025 at 7:24 am
Great post, Divemedic.
Noway2 · May 27, 2025 at 7:34 am
Sounds a lot like my grandfather’s funeral. He got the final ride on the fire truck and over the air announcement. I don’t recall any music, though, it was a cold day in January with temperatures around -4F and two feet of snow on the ground.
He was a fireman for a long time and the local chief for many years when I was young.
Exile1981 · May 27, 2025 at 4:42 pm
About 10 years ago a good friend died, he was a volunteer firefighter for 18 years and a tow truck driver for 22. He was killed on the job. His funeral was the fire truck escorted by 22 tow trucks, all polished and with bunting. Four of the people who spoke at his funeral were people whose lives he saved over the years. Rick will never be forgotten as long as we keep him with us
Grumpy51 · May 27, 2025 at 7:25 pm
👆👆THIS.
It’s what Memorial Day is for. Remembering those who gave it all. And as long as we remember them, they remain with us.
So hoist a drink (tea, coffee, wine, beer, whatever) and tell stories of them….. remind the young folks about them, their exploits, their actions, their courage.
Danny · May 27, 2025 at 4:30 pm
That was a nice tribute.
Daniel K Day · May 27, 2025 at 11:19 pm
This is a great post, DM. I’d welcome reading it again next Memorial Day.
Comments are closed.