Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial
Honorees
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Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service Firefighters honored in 2020
Dwain S. Bradshaw (2019)
Escambia County Fire Rescue
Scott R. Neumann (2019)
Martin County Fire Rescue
Donald DiPetrillo (2020)
Seminole Tribe of Florida Fire Rescue
The Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial - Ocala, Florida
(What is the criteria for recognition on the MemoriaI?)
n the late 1980's, shortly after funds were appropriated for the Florida State Fire College, Fire Chief John Wright, now retired from the Deland Fire Department, proposed that a memorial be erected at the Fire College dedicated to those firefighters who had made the supreme sacrifice while serving the State of Florida. Within two years, over $50,000 had been collected from donors who came from all walks of life, including career and volunteer firefighters of every rank, civilians and fire service organizations. Virtually every firefighter in Florida contributed to the memorial fund.
Artist Don Murray of Gainesville, Florida, whose father was a firefighter, was commissioned to create the statue that has become the focal point of the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial. The life-size bronze statue of a firefighter does not depict the typical heroic pose we often see, but is instead modeled in a pose keeping with the purpose of the Memorial, that being a "Firefighter at Rest". The base of the Memorial was designed by Florida State Fire College Staff, and was constructed by them with assistance from professional masons.
About the engraved bricks at the Memorial's base
The Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial was dedicated on January 11, 1992, and occupies a place of honor at the center of the Florida State Fire College Campus in Ocala, Florida. The Florida Joint Council of Fire and Emergency Services and the staff of the Florida State Fire College maintain the Memorial in perpetuity.
While visiting the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial, please remember that this small piece of earth is dedicated to the memory of those who have given their lives so that others might live!
— This is truly hallowed ground —
Firefighter Memorial Monument - State Capitol
In 2013, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida approved a resolution authorizing the placement of a Firefighter Memorial Monument on the grounds of the state Capitol. Previously, Florida’s Fallen Firefighters were recognized at the Capitol on a Wall of Honor located on the Plaza level of the Capitol.
The resolution stated that “The Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby recognize the heroic efforts of Florida's firefighters and support a dedicated place on the grounds of the State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, for all Floridians and visitors to view and express their appreciation to the brave men and women in the fire services”. The resolution further resolved that “The Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby endorse and support this effort demonstrating the spirit and legacy of the firefighter - past, present, and future.”
The Joint Council of Fire and Emergency Services was named to lead the effort. Fundraising began, and renowned sculptor Michael D. Jernigan was selected to create the base and the bronze statues.
This memorial is a complement to the existing fallen firefighter memorials located on the grounds of the Florida State Fire College and the Florida Forest Service Training Center.
The Firefighter Memorial Monument was dedicated on April 1, 2019 and stands proudly in the courtyard of the Florida State Capitol.
Criteria for Recognition
Florida Firefighters who die in the performance of their duties, and firefighters from outside the State of Florida who die in the performance of their duties within the borders of the State of Florida shall be honored in recognition of their sacrifice.
This honor includes having their name inscribed on both the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial, located at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala, and on the Florida Firefighter Memorial Monument located at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee.
Determination as to whether or not the death of a firefighter occurred in the “performance of his or her duties” for the purposes of recognition on the memorials shall be determined by the following standards:
(a) Deaths that are the direct and proximate result of an injury or exposure sustained enroute to, during operations at, or returning from the scene of an emergency incident or during a training activity.
(b) Deaths from heart attacks, strokes or illnesses directly attributable to a specific emergency incident or a training activity and death from a heart attack or stroke that occurs within 24 hours after going off duty.
(c) Deaths attributable to a cancer, for which a firefighter was awarded benefits under the provisions of Chapter 112.1816,Florida Statutes. This includes deaths, attributable to a cancer diagnosis, that occurred prior to the enactment of the law that would have complied with the provisions of the law had it been in place at the time of the illness, and deaths that would have been eligible to receive benefits under Chapter 112.1816 but were excluded because the firefighter was a volunteer.
Link to: Cancer Inclusion Application (MSWord)
Questions? Please contact MaryAnn.Benson@myfloridacfo.com
Link to: Cancer Inclusion Criteria Document
In keeping with the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial guidelines, specific cases will be excluded from consideration for inclusion on the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorials:
- Deaths attributed to suicide.
- Deaths attributed to alcohol or controlled substance abuse.
- Deaths resulting from the firefighter acting in a grossly negligent manner at the time of his/her death.
It is recognized that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mental health/illness poses a real struggle to many fire service members. Therefore, markers have been added at the memorials to acknowledge the loss of lives gone too soon due to the tragic events regarding firefighter mental health. The absence of names on these markers symbolizes the silent struggles of PTSD a firefighter may face throughout their career in the fire service.
Link to: PTSD and the Fire Service Information
Honorees
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
