My cousin died a few days ago and I attended his service yesterday. I have been to hundreds of funerals through the years and never had the experience of the fireman’s last call service.
Two firetrucks were parked near the cemetery with a group of firefighters standing together.
A dispatcher called out his name on the radio a couple times that we could all hear. Then the dispatcher stated there was no response and he proceeded to speak about the end of his service with this particular fire company. Some other words of respect and appreciation were said and then more dispatcher alert noises.
At the end local fire whistles in the community started ringing through the valley where we live.
I’ve attended some military funerals with Taps that always get me but this had a unique sadness that really hit me emotionally.
No he did not but he was still an active firefighter.
He had put up their Christmas tree, went outside and put up some lights and then went inside and died.
I’m sorry for your loss.
I’ve had several friends who were firefighters, and they always spoke very highly about the fellowship in the fire department.
I buried my father on that date (December 7th) 14 years ago and the military honors and Taps really got to me. He was a WW II veteran and they played Taps and presented me with a folded flag.
This fireman’s last call was heartbreaking. Never experienced that before.
There’s also a similar ceremony when someone is retiring, except they sign off themselves. I remember when one of the dispatchers retired; they put out a page to standby for an important announcement - after x years dispatcher ___, # __ is retiring, blah, blah, blah & then gave him the air to say his goodbyes, then pretty much every fire cos went on air to wish him the best. I don’t think it would have happened if there was an incident going on at that time.
They sometimes do something similar for a pilot’s final flight
Firefighters get special treatment. At my college graduation they wore their helmets instead of mortarboards to show off their degree.
And they deserve that special treatment. Damn I am almost crying reading your description.
I used to work for an electrical utility Deaths on the job were not common, but not rare either. They did a similar, but not quite as elaborate, funeral procession/ceremony when an employee died on the job.
i also had this experience when a dear friend of mine, who had been an EMT for the volunteer Fire Department of a small town passed away. Salty had been a volunteer for over 30 years and i was not expecting this brief but very moving ceremony. i had been trying to support his children and grandchildren and had done my crying before the funeral. But i really broke down after the signoff. i’m tearing up now, just remembering it.
@Ellecram please don’t be sorry. It is a good memory. A good memory can still be sad, but i am glad for it. i’m sad for me, but treasure my memories of my friend. He was a good friend to me and everyone in that town and they appreciated him. i was so moved by the esteem he was held in for being such a good person. Thank you.
Thank you for explaining. I totally understand how it can be a good memory. It’s sad to think of the ones who were once in our lives. Remembering them and sharing their impact is a tribute.
It’s moving to see the community appreciate them in such a profoundly memorable way.