Firefighters pay tribute
Red antique fire trucks lined the Point on Sunday, shooting arches of water into the rivers.
Rock music blared from speakers as children checked out tables of toy fire trucks.
But promptly at noon, the mood of the 20th annual fire muster at the Point changed. An 18-member honor guard in plaid kilts, white jackets and boots marched solemnly to the fountain, drums pounding and bagpipes wailing.
After a prayer, William Ruth, field supervisor of the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, read off the names of the 12 firefighters in the state who died in the line of duty since the last muster. A bell tolled after each name. A bugler played taps.
"We enjoy a beautiful day today, but they can't be with us," said Robert G. Clifford, treasurer of the Tri State Antique Fire Engine Association. "This year makes it especially (timely) because we lost two firefighters in the city of Pittsburgh in March."
Pittsburgh firefighters Charles G. Brace, 55, and Richard A. Stefanakis, 51, died March 13 when the bell tower at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District collapsed while they were fighting a fire.
"It's important to let people know that people do die doing what they love doing so that others may live," Ruth said. "It's a way of showing respect and honor."
Lynnea Christner, of Banksville, clutched a plastic fire helmet for her sons, Reed, 3, and Luke, 18 months. She has been coming here for the past three or four years. The event, she said, has grown in importance since 9/11.
Karyn Fife, 32, of Upper St. Clair, has been playing the drum in the honor guard for 2 1/2 years. Her father, a piper, tried to interest her in his instrument. He even tempted her by taking her to Montreal to watch nearly 60 pipe bands perform.
"When I heard those snares, I thought I got to play the snare drum," she recalled.
Although she is not a firefighter -- she's a financial analyst for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center -- Fife likes performing with the honor guard.
"It means a lot to be part of the firefighters, knowing what they do every day," she said.
FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS
The following are the Pennsylvania firefighters who have died since Aug. 25, 2003, when the last fire muster was held at the Point. The list does not include two firefighters who died Saturday in Philadelphia.
William F. Ramsey, 42, of the Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department, died of a heart attack after returning from a call.
William Wheeler, 67, of the Saxton Volunteer Fire Department, died in a car accident as he was responding to another accident.
James Allen, 43, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, died of a heart attack at a structure fire.
Darrel Michaels, 60, of the Russell Fire Co., died of trauma at the station.
Thomas A. Diorio, 70, of the West Whiteland Fire Co., died of a heart attack at a structure fire.
Derrick T. Harvey, 45, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, fell one story during a structure fire and died of trauma and burns.
Keith Alan Firment, 35, of the Marguerite Volunteer Fire Co., died of a heart attack after returning from a structure fire.
Richard Gabrielli, 70, of George M. McMurtry Fire Department No. 1, died of heart attack at a fire.
Charles G. Brace, 55, and Richard A. Stefanakis, 51, both of the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau, died in a collapse of a bell tower during a fire at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District.
Thomas De Angelis, 40, of Stowe Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 2, died of a heart attack after returning from a fire.
Kenneth Lipyance, 46, of the Churchill Volunteer Fire Co., suffered a stroke after returning from a traffic accident.
Additional Information:
FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS
The following are the Pennsylvania firefighters who have died since Aug. 25, 2003, when the last fire muster was held at the Point. The list does not include two firefighters who died Saturday in Philadelphia.
William F. Ramsey, 42, of the Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department, died of a heart attack after returning from a call.
William Wheeler, 67, of the Saxton Volunteer Fire Department, died in a car accident as he was responding to another accident.
James Allen, 43, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, died of a heart attack at a structure fire.
Darrel Michaels, 60, of the Russell Fire Co., died of trauma at the station.
Thomas A. Diorio, 70, of the West Whiteland Fire Co., died of a heart attack at a structure fire.
Derrick T. Harvey, 45, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, fell one story during a structure fire and died of trauma and burns.
Keith Alan Firment, 35, of the Marguerite Volunteer Fire Co., died of a heart attack after returning from a structure fire.
Richard Gabrielli, 70, of George M. McMurtry Fire Department No. 1, died of heart attack at a fire.
Charles G. Brace, 55, and Richard A. Stefanakis, 51, both of the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau, died in a collapse of a bell tower during a fire at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District.
Thomas De Angelis, 40, of Stowe Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 2, died of a heart attack after returning from a fire.
Kenneth Lipyance, 46, of the Churchill Volunteer Fire Co., suffered a stroke after returning from a traffic accident.
