Brotherhood

Firefighters came from across Canada for the service, as well as from the United States, as there was an American flag among them. Pipes and drums led the way, joining the brass band that was already in place, followed by the march in of a multitude of firefighters in uniform, from various branches of services.

The ceremony included remarks by several speakers- firefighters with the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Ontario Fire Marshal, the federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and fire department chaplains. It also included the national anthem, the last post, laments, and the ringing of the fire bell as a last call to fallen firefighters. The names of the twelve fire fighters who have been added to the wall were called out, and their families honoured. I recorded Amazing Grace as played by pipes and drums during the service- the melody always moves me.

With the service over, the march past began. Those fire fighters who made up the pipes and drums and standard bearers, who had been to my left through the service, marched out to join their colleagues who'd marched in behind them at the start. The whole body of them moved out from the Memorial together, passing by the families of those new names on the wall.