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The Fire Bell The life of a firefighter is closely associated with the ringing of a bell. Traditionally as the day began, it was the bell that started it off. And so through the day and night, each alarm was sounded by a bell which called the firefighters to their duty and to place their lives in jeopardy. During times like these we seek strong symbols to give us a better understanding of our feelings during this time of reflection of the devotion that our fallen comrades had for their duty. The three sets of rings of the bell give honor and respect to those who have served so well and represents the end of their duties as their last alarm.

Kansas Fallen Firefighters National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Fire Chief Stan Engdahl McPherson County Fire Department #2 Marquette, KS Fire Chief Stanley Engdahl was 78 years old and along with serving as the town's fire chief, Engdahl was the curator of the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette. Lieutenant Bryon Wayne Johnson Sedgwick County Fire District #1 Wichita, KS www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities Captain Anthony "Tony" P. Cox Topeka Fire Department Topeka, KS Tony Cox was 44 years old and a 21 year veteran of the department. This marks the first official firefighter death in the Topeka Fire Department since the early 1900s. www.ksffa.com Firefighter Brandon Daley Butler County Fire District #3 Rose Hill, KS Rose Hill Fire Department Memorial Top of page

“A Mother’s Prayer” by Carolyn Kay Carr "Dedicated to my Son and to all Firefighters” The alarm goes off, ready to go, all with no hesitation Time to save a soul or a home, straight to that destination This prayer’s for my son, as that fire calls Protecting the innocent and fighting flaming walls Guide him with your strength, the courage to pull him through Give him that breath of air, if he gets down to his last few By chance he may get weak; do give him the will to stand Carry him as you said, your” Foot Prints in the Sand” He will have to lift or ax a door today May your angels chip away, helping along the way There’s always the unknown, of what they call “back draft” Secure your arms around him, and the others who have his back Make way for him to listen, to hear that persons call If he gets blinded, give him sight, direct him down that hall Determined to break a window, to rescue that angry dog Or fight the wild fires, to keep lands beauty how it belongs Keep there team in motion, to know where one is at There’re taking turns in and out, of these fires that attack When that duties done, he’ll have peace of mind You were right beside him; he now thanks you for your time Lord I ask this of you, I pray you watch over him Help him always save the lives, then return him to me again. Copyright©2007 Carolyn Kay Carr. Reprinted with permission.

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