By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

Lethbridge Fire Services Honours Fallen Comrades

Sep 9, 2016 | 4:27 PM

LETHBRIDGE – While firefighters and first responders do not go to work expecting to die, they still respond to their duties knowing the risks involved.
This afternoon (Sept. 9th) the Lethbridge Service Honour Guard, on behalf of the IAFF Local 237 and Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services participated in the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial, honouring all of those who have given their life to serve their community.

The ceremony was fitting just days before the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City.

Rich Hildebrend, Chief of Fire and Emergency Services, said the ceremony is not only an important day for firefighters, but rather, the memorial is a day honouring first responders across the country.

“Today gives us (IAFF Local 237 and Lethbridge Fire Department) the chance to reflect on the horrific events of Sept. 11th and the opportunity to think about their families and the loved ones we lost here.”

The memorial included a parade of uniformed members who marched from Station #1 Fire Headquarter, eastward along 4 Avenue South to the Yates Memorial Centre.

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Hildebrend said that despite Sept. 11 taking place more than a decade ago; the haunting memories of the tragedy remain with him and other firefighters.

“I remember being glued to the television set watching those newscasts. It was such a devastating day, as we knew firefighters were entering those buildings as those buildings were collapsing,” he said.

Two Firefighters read out the names of the 160 firefighters and emergency personnel who have died in the last year serving their communities across North America. A firefighter hit a bell with each name and wreaths were laid by local officials, departments and family members.

Bev Kurtz, who has attended each memorial service since it began, spoke of her late husband, Edward Kenneth Kurtz, who passed away from colon cancer in 2004 after serving the Lethbridge Fire
Department for 35 years

“It’s a ceremony I think everybody should see at least once. It brings back a lot of memories,” she said.

Kurtz and Hildebrend both noted of the bond that the service personnel share.

“It doesn’t matter which city you are in North America, you can walk into any fire station and introduce yourself and you feel welcome. It’s because we share so many common values. We may do things slightly different, yet the core purpose of being there is consistent,” Hildebrend said.

The ceremony was followed by a mix and mingle which provided first responders from various backgrounds to discuss stories and share challenges in their field.