A new monument with a firefighter’s helmet centered on top of stacked gear and boots, straddled by an ax, evokes some emotion of what it takes to wear the uniform and dutifully serve.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue dedicated the Fallen Firefighters Monument, which includes plaques with names of seven men and the words “Remember The Fallen” above them, on Jan. 9 at its 3657 Gaines Road headquarters in St. Augustine.
One by one, family members or representatives stepped up to the brick wall and placed a rose on their loved one’s plaque. Dozens of law enforcement, first responders, county officials, families and a bagpipe and drum corps attended.
“This memorial ensures that their names, their service and their sacrifice endure beyond our lifetimes,” Fire Rescue Chief Sean McGee said. “It gives future generations a place to learn what it truly means to serve selflessly.”
He emphasized that firefighting is a profession defined by courage and responsibility. Every call carries uncertainty and risk.
“For some, that call became their last,” McGee said. “Their sacrifice is not measured only in the moments of service we remember, but in the crews they stood beside, the community they served with honor, and in the families they loved.”
County Commission Chairman Clay Murphy said it’s meaningful for both the department and the community and that what these men and women do every day matters.
“When a call comes in, they go … because someone else needs help,” he said. “For the individuals honored here, that responsibility ultimately came at the highest cost.”
To the families, he said, “St. Johns County does not take your loss lightly. This memorial ensures they will always have a place here — one that reflects the respect owed to them and the gratitude this county carries.”
Those firefighters whose names are inscribed on the wall are Frank Schilsky (12/18/1987), Dean Cherry (8/22/2002), Ryan Reed (8/25/2007), Kenny Krulish (1/22/2013), Garrett Opper (4/27/2022), Matt Martin (8/21/2022) and Brandon Estes (10/2/2022).
Fire Rescue engineer Chris Naff also spoke at the ceremony and played a large role in the project.
“What started as an idea on a piece of paper slowly evolved into what you see today,” Naff said. “After a few months of planning and design, we broke ground on May 15, 2024. A year and a half later, we stand here completed.”
The ceremony also included the dedication of the department’s 9/11 Memorial, symbolized by a tree planted at the site to commemorate the lives lost during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the sacrifices of first responders.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New St. Johns memorial ensures fallen firefighters will be remembered
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
