How to Conduct a Firefighter Memorial Service
One of the most trying challenges in a firefighter's life is the loss of a fellow firefighter. You must override the emotions and mourning of the loss, along with an investigation into the death, so you can deal with the memorial service. You need to honor the sacrifice this man or woman has given to the community and country with the proper respect that is richly deserved. You will not be alone in this challenge.Your community will experience shock, pain, and mourning with you. Firefighters across the nation and world will also share your grief. A specific protocol must be followed when planning the ceremony and funeral for a fallen firefighter. The fire department and auxiliary have the burden of loss and a great deal of work to do in a short period of time.
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Instructions
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Contact the fire department chaplain. This is the fire chief's responsibility unless he appoints the assistant chief to carry out this task. Some departments will have a chaplain on the department roll call, whereas others will need to seek out a regional chaplain. The fire chief must immediately appoint a survivor action officer. This person creates the death notifications and coordinates and confirms the funeral plans. He works with the chief, chaplain, minister, funeral director, family liaison officer, and procession officer to keep everything working as smoothly as possible for the family and the department.
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Appoint a liaison to work directly with the firefighter's family. The department liaison should immediately meet with the family and make himself available to do anything they need. He may go to the funeral home with the family as a support system. There will be a great deal of paper work to deal with if the firefighter died while on duty, and the liaison will help with it. The liaison can be an officer or a close family friend.
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Follow the instructions given by the chaplain, as well as the state or regional firefighter officials who instruct the department during memorial preparations. These officials will give directions pertaining to specific firefighter ceremonies, such as the last bell or alarm, which is rung to call the firefighter for the last time.
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Prepare Class A uniforms for the entire department. If a new member needs a uniform or another member needs an updated shirt, attend to this. The entire department must be properly dressed for a formal, semiformal, or nonformal service. The department will turn out as pall bearers and honor guards, so the Class A uniforms are essential. The family liaison must check the uniform of the deceased firefighter in case a new one needs to be ordered.
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Release a current photo of the firefighter to the media. It is important to keep updated photos of department members on file. As information becomes available, the survivor action officer will be called on to make statements concerning the firefighter, the fire investigation, the death investigation, and the memorial or funeral date, location, and time.
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Clean the fire department building, equipment, trucks, and community area as part of the protocol for a memorial service. The entire department must be in excellent condition for visiting officials and regional, state, and country-wide firefighters who come to participate in the services.
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Work with the family to learn whether they want the Crossed Aerial Ladders at the fire department, church, or cemetery. Do they want an honor guard and department pall bearers? There are many things a department would like to do to honor the firefighter, but it is best to respect the family's requests. Will they accept a pumper truck or caisson for the transport of the casket to the church, fire department, and cemetery?
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Ask whether the family would like the chaplain to take part in the church or funeral service. Does the family have a minister? Does the family want a eulogy by a department member? The survivor action officer will find the family liaison officer plays an integral part in communicating with the family.
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Prepare for the last bell or alarm ceremony, and decide who will make the last call to the deceased firefighter over the radio.
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Select drivers to transport the family from the church or funeral home to the fire department and then on to the cemetery.
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The department auxiliary should have meals brought to the fire department for visiting officials and members who are preparing for the memorial service. Provide meals for the family and attend to any other needs.
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Tips & Warnings
All fire departments should have a memorial plan in place. This plan will help if and when a death occurs in the department. Each fire department member should have a will and directive that includes his or her wishes concerning a funeral or memorial service. The orders should be kept in a locked file at the fire department.
