6.8.2025 - 2025 Fall River Firefighter Memorial Ceremony

Good night.

Sounds like we're right on time this morning.

I want to thank you all for coming today. But before we start our ceremony, I'd like to offer uh ask for a moment of silence um for a few things. Yesterday there was a tragic call in Portsouth that proved that the brotherhood doesn't end at the border of our city. Um so for the families of the victims, especially the 17 and 15 year olds, um we offer a moment of silence for Dora Duza and the entire

Duza family who we lost at way too young of an age. We ask for a moment of silence. And also this year we had an active duty death. Firefighter Scott Casey who died months before he was scheduled to retire. We ask for a moment of silence.

Thank you. And without further ado, the master of soc.

Thank you everybody for coming. Uh once again, most of you know why we do this.

For those of you that haven't been here before and you don't, this is to honor the uh names that are on our memorial bell of the men that uh made the ultra ultimate sacrifice um for this city, for this department, for the citizens. So, uh this is a real important day for us. It's the most important day for us because this is a day we get to honor not just guys from all over the

country or the world, specifically our guys that uh some we worked with, some that were retired before us. So, it's a very important day and I really thank you guys for coming. I'd like to bring up um our fire chaplain, Father Reine.

Almighty God, as we come on this Memorial Sunday in remembrance of those who have given their lives in the line of duty for our city, each individual person is significant as they went to their reward serving this city by protecting not only property but life. We remember their leadership and dedication, love of being a Fall River firefighter.

In the words of scripture from St. John, no one has a greater love than to lay down his life for one's friends. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain. Today we remember that love and the giving of life to service in this department.

give them and all firefighters across our nation today who we remember the light, the joy, and the peace in your presence. In our prayers today, we also remember all of our retired firefighters as well who have been called home to their eternal reward, particularly those since last year's ceremony.

Finally, we ask you, Lord, to continue to protect and to guide and to watch over our firefighters who carry their legacy and dream of saving lives each day. Continue to bless our department and all who make this department who and what we are, and bring all of our department members each day safely home after their shifts. Amen.

Good morning again everybody. Again, I want to thank you for being here today. To the family members, fellow firefighters, retirees, and friends of this great department. It means more to us than you'll ever know to have you standing with us today. and to the to the elected officials who are here with us today. Mayor Coogan, Representative Fiola, Councelor Pereira, Councelor Kilby, Council Reposo, we thank you for

being here for us and ask you to remember that it is when we stand together that we have the loudest voice to continue to move this department in the direction of safety and help us ensure no more names are ever added to this memorial.

Today we're gathered at the Memorial Bell where 22 names are etched in granite. Names we honor and carry in our hearts. Each one represents a life lived with courage, a call answered with conviction and a sacrifice that will never be forgotten. Today, I encourage you to consider the history of the Fall River Fire Department and the changing face of the dangers on our job.

Firefighter Timothy Dwire, who lost his life in the line of duty in the earliest days of this department, when in 1895 he was thrown from truck one, a horsedrawn ladder wagon that lost control and stuck the globe and struck the Globe Street Railway Barn. That was 130 years ago. But his story still echoes in who we are. And the most recent name added to this memorial, firefighter Adam Franco, who passed

away passed away 10 years ago in 2015 after a hard-fought battle with glyopblasto a cancer caused by the toxic environments that are present at nearly every incident we respond do. His loss reminds us that our dangers don't end when the fire goes out. From horsedrawn wagons to $2 million apparatus. From holding your breath and hoping for the best to battling with 45 minutes of air on your back. From

fighting fires where the products burning were natural to the intense synthetic based fires today. There's no doubt this job has changed, but what hasn't changed is the heart and courage it takes to be willing to put your life on the line every shift to protect the citizens of Fall River. Today, we remember all of our brothers who gave their lives in service to the city. These men didn't simply

wear a uniform, they lived the uniform.

They responded when the alarm sounded, ran toward danger when others ran away, and stood between this city and tragedy time and time again. Their sacrifice spans generations, but their memory is constant. It lives in the spirit of every member of this department. It lives in every alarm we respond to. It lives in the bell and in the stone that bears their names.

To the families that are here with us, you carry a burden most of us can't imagine. We honor not just your loved ones, but you. Your strength, your love, and your ongoing presence in our fire family are a reminder that this is more than just a job. It's a lifelong bond.

To the members of this department, past and present, thank you for carrying on this legacy. You are the living reflection of those we remember today. And the best way we honor them is to serve with integrity, to train hard, and to be there for another day. So, as we toll the bell and as we speak each name aloud, let us do so with pride. Not just in how they died, but in

how they lived with bravery, commitment, and heart. Let the sound of this bell encourage us all to live and serve in a way that honors their sacrifice. Thank you and stay safe.

Thank you.

You're stuck with me for a few more minutes. Who's coming up?

Thirst. Okay. I now like to call firefighter Weston Thirsten from the Westport Fire Department to come up and assist us with our bell ringing.

I'm now going to read each of the names etched in the granite in this memorial.

And after each name, there'll be a single ring of the bell. William C.

Buckley, Robert T.

Mitchell, Arthur C.

Lovevenberry Edward W.

Shaw James F.

McCabe Michael P.

Malarkey Edward J.

Rainey James E.

Eastwood John P.

Clifford Walter J.

Petrusca Francis J.

Candas John Koser Ernest J. Dubbie senior Paul R.

Bernard Gerald W.

Native Albert E.

Meansen Paul E.

Chippendale Robert E.

Carvalo John Pacho Jr. John J.

Sylvia Dennis E.

Matthew Adam C. Franco As a tradition, we will also read to you the names of the brothers that we lost in the last year who have retired from the department. After I read the list of names, we'll toll the bell once in their memory.

Firefighter Raymond Furland, firefighter Steve Sylvia, firefighter Raymond Fiola, Lieutenant Walter Nicolo, firefighter Anton Rigo, firefighter Neil Meler, firefighter John Mitchesen, firefighter Ronnie Leage, and firefighter Scott Casey.

CJ the all clear. In the days before the present system of dispatching apparatus from the station to an alarm by means of a claxin and/or tone, the for fire department utilized the bell system. This bell system in conjunction with call boxes located in buildings and on street corners alerted the dispatches at fire alarm headquarters as to the location of the alarm. The dispatchers in turn sounded a

series of strikes on the dispatch bell corresponding to the number on the call box which was activated.

Each station would receive a series of strikes and the apparatus in whose area the alarm originated would then proceed to the site of the alarm. Upon completion of this response and the apparatus returned to quarters, a series of strikes on the dispatch bell was sounded in all stations to inform all firefighters on duty that the incident was over and the responding personnel were returning to quarters.

The sequence of strikes used was 55 and five. Thus, the bell before you today being used to commemorate this past practice and being previously employed on an engine company in this city will be struck on firefighters memorial Sunday with the sequence 555 in memory of all departed firefighters and especially to the memory of the firefighters who died in the line of duty. This action will tell these men

that the fire is out, all clear, return to quarters and welcome home.

We now are going and have our half staff ceremony.

Detail He

said no.

Thank you. I'd like to bring up the fire chaplain once again for the firefighters

prayer. When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage, give me the strength to save a life, whatever be its age.

Help me to embrace the little child before it is too late or save that older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fulfill my calling to give the best in me to guard my friend and my neighbor and protect his property.

And if according to your will I must answer death's call, bless with your protecting hand my family one and all.

Amen. You have anything else you want to say Chief?

Good. Thank you, father. Uh once again, I'm truly thankful for everybody that showed up today, especially my brother and brothers and sister firefighters.

Um, again, it's our most important day to see so many families, friends, and firefighters here. It truly does a service to the men that uh that gave all. Thank you very much for coming.