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Not Forgotten

December 12^th, 2007

muse@bikerenews.com

Red Knights Virginia IV put the cap on our group riding this past weekend. This was a closed ride for Red Knights Members, but it was one of the better rides I've been on this year. There was not any poker runs or fund raisers associated with ride. It wasn't about the oldest rider, or the further distance traveled.

It was just some Red Knights getting together to pay our respects to some members of our community who are not with us anymore. During this holiday season, the Red Knights thought that it was important to honor the memory of the Fallen Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service personnel who have given their lives in service to our community.

Our first stop was to Norfolk Fire Rescue Station 1 located on St. Paul Blvd. We were met by Assistant Chief Glazner, and the members of Engine1, Ladder 1, and Medic 1. After a short round of introductions, it was our privilege to present the Norfolk Fire Rescue with a silk wreath of red flowers formed in the shape of a support ribbon. On the wreath was a black ribbon with the phrase "Not Forgotten" in gold lettering.

After explaining to the Firefighters that we were presenting the wreath in honor of Norfolk's Fallen Firefighters, we thanked them for their willingness to continue to serve in the tradition of those who had gone before them. Each Red Knight shook the hand of every Firefighter assembled. It is important to note that the Firefighters who were present for the wreath presentation will be the same shift that will be working on Christmas Day, a time when most of us will be home unwrapping presents and spending time with family and friends.

We then headed to our next destination, the Virginia Fire Training Center, located on Birdneck Road. You may remember from some earlier articles that a Memorial Foundation has been established to honor the Virginia Beach Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. Work is progressing on the triangle in front of the Training Center, and it appears that the Memorial will be completed by late spring or early summer.

When we arrived, Fire Chief Cover, District Chief Halstead, and Master Firefighter Pravetz welcomed us to the Training Center. After opening comments from the Red Knights and from Fire Chief Cover, we presented a Red Support Wreath to the Virginia Beach Fire and Emergency Medical Services Memorial in honor of their Fallen Fire and EMS personnel.

What made this presentation special was that there was a Fire Recruit Class which had graduated a year earlier, and had returned to the Training Center to receive instruction on Engine and Ladder pump operations. Fire Chief Cover had the young Firefighters join us for the presentation.

For me, the presence of those young Firefighters helped to "connect the dots" between those who we were there to honor and those who continue to serve. I am sure that many of those Firefighters chose Fire Service because of the respect and support Firefighters receive from the local community. The simple fact is that the names of brave Firefighters who appear on memorial plaques across the country paid for that respect and gratitude with their lives. The sad fact is that respect continues to be earned every day by the ultimate sacrifice of Fire and EMS personnel.

The Red Knights did not give out wreaths to names on a plaque. Standing there looking at the faces of Norfolk's and Virginia Beach's active Firefighters, we knew why we did it. It was because standing beside those men and women we could see the hands of those who answered the "Last Bell" firmly on the shoulders of those waiting for the "Next Bell."

The names of our local heroes are:

I hope you take a moment to remember the sacrifice of these Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Personnel during this holiday season.

Ride Safe

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