Kitchener Fire to honour fallen firefighters
Posted Sep 24, 2023 07:45:49 AM.
Last Updated Sep 25, 2023 12:12:14 PM.
Kitchener residents will have a chance to honour fallen firefighters who lived, served and sacrificed for the city.
Sunday marks the 19th annual Kitchener Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
A parade begins at 10:45 a.m. and the ceremony takes place at 11:10 a.m. at Civic Centre Park in Kitchener.
Members of the Kitchener Fire Department and Kitchener Professional Firefighters Association (KPFFA) will be there, as well as Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and the Honour Guard.
Firefighter Dave Vaux spoke about what the day is like.
“It’s a somber ceremony, but also, I always find there is some joy to it,” said Vaux. “All the firefighters gather to remember the fallen firefighters who have lost their lives. It’s good to see the family and the loved ones that show up every single year to lay a flower on the helmet.”
Vaux added that a new helmet will be added this year to honour his friend, Michael D. Pearce.
“I’m glad I can be there to speak about him and the memories I had with him and to be there with his family to lay the flowers. There’s a little bit of peace with that and know that he will forever be on our memorial where his daughter can grow up and see him there.”
Pearce joined the Kitchener Fire Department in 2008 as a firefighter and shortly after as a member of the Honour Guard.
The ceremony is open to the public.
