Fallen Nine Added to National Memorial

By Tara Lynn
Reporter
Published: October 5, 2008

It’s been more than a year since nine Charleston city firefighters died in a furniture store fire.  Sunday, their names were added to a national memorial in Maryland and their families were there to honor their sacrifice.

The National Fallen Firefighter Foundation added the names of 101 firefighters who died in the line of duty last year to special plaques at the ceremony, including the names of the Charleston nine.  Family members accepted folded flags and a rose in honor of the men.  Those who spoke at the ceremony, say there was a time when firefighter deaths were thought to be inevitable, but now the industry must continually improve the fire service safety standards to prevent fires like the one that killed nine firefighters in West Ashley last year.

“Tragedies like the one in South Carolina that we remember today were shrugged aside instead [of being] the focus of a national mourning like we do today. Thankfully those tragedies are fewer but the pain no less deep,” said Chief Ronald Paulson.

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley attended the memorial service along with his new pick for chief of the department Thomas Carr.