Alexandria Fire and EMS Chief Corey Smedley, left, and Volunteer Fire Department President Jay Johnson place a wreath at the Memorial to Fallen Firefighters Oct. 14 at Ivy Hill Cemetery as part of National Fire Prevention Week ceremonies.
The ceremony, which dates back to 1856, honors those who have died in the line of duty and also marks the passing of members of the department who have died during the preceding 12 months. For the first time since 2019, this year’s ceremony was held in person and open to the public.
“It’s important for us to recognize and remember those who risked their own wellbeing to serve our community as fire and emergency service professionals,” said Fire and EMS Chief Corey Smedley. “The Alexandria Fire Department will always remain dedicated to never forgetting and honoring those we’ve lost.”
Held in front of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial obelisk, the centerpiece of the ceremony is the Roll Call of the Fallen, a reading of the names of fire safety and EMS career and volunteer personnel who have died in the line of duty. Following the Roll Call, Chief Smedley and Volunteer Fire Department President Jay Johnson placed a wreath at the memorial to honor the fallen firefighters.
Police Chief Don Hayes, Sheriff Sean Casey, Mayor Justin Wilson and other city officials were in attendance to pay homage to Alexandria’s fallen fire department first responders. Gary Kirchbaum, program manager of the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, delivered the keynote remarks.