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Fallen
firefighters deserve recognition
Amemorial
stands at Fire Station 13 in memory of the High Point firefighters that have died in
the line of duty.
A silver bell is mounted on top of a
brick platform, simple in design but powerful in its message.
Mounted on the brick platform are
three bronze plaques with the names of those who died. These same
firefighters were also recognized on May 6 in Raleigh
as the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial was unveiled and dedicated
to all North Carolina
firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
The dedication was planned to coincide
with North Carolina Fallen Firefighters week. The High Point Fire
Dept.
honor guard was on hand to
accept an American flag for each of the three firefighters who died in the
line of duty: Captain T.W.
Stoner, who died July 21, 1925; O.M.
Hayworth, who died July 29, 1936; and Captain R.E. Gay, who died Nov. 1,
1970.
As I read about the dedication, I
began to reflect on the number of times I have passed by our memorial
without giving it a second thought.
Personally I didn’t know any of the firefighters on the plaques but
still feel sadness when I think how they paid the ultimate price serving the
citizens of High Point.
I cannot help but wonder how their families were changed by the tragedy. I
wonder how the firefighters must have felt losing one of their own.
Naturally, I then begin to wonder how
such a tragedy would affect my family.
Would they be proud I had sacrificed
for another or angry that I had left them alone? It’s not a pleasant
thing to contemplate.
I guess that is the real reason
it is so easy to think ab o u t something else when I walk past the memorial.
Almost any experienced firefighter can
recall a time while fighting fire that things went bad and they found
themselves in a dang erous situation. It’s a reality of our profession and
still we do this job. We do this job because there is a passion and love for
what we do. It’s a great feeling to be able to help those in need.
We have also been extremely blessed to
have the support of the community, and for that we will always be
thankful. It makes this job much easier knowing you have that kind of support
from those you serve. So occasionally, when you have a moment, think about
those who have died in High Point and across the state.
Remember the families that must bear
the loss of their loved ones and live with the sacrifice they have
made. Remember those firefighters who work each day trying to make the
community a safer place to live. Your thoughts and prayers will truly be
appreciated.
We also must realize that as
important as it is to remember the past, we must not forget the future. Every
day in fire stations across the state, tones blare across the speakers.
Someone else is in need of our assistance.
We climb on the trucks and
respond, not knowing what challenges we might face.
We know it’s a dangerous job,
but that's OK. It’s what we are called to do.
KENNETH LEE KNIGHT is a battalion chief in the High Point Fire
Department. He can be contacted at kenneth.knight@highpointnc.gov.
 
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