Uniformed firefighters from across the state of Florida will gather at the Downtown Ocala Square on Thursday to honor fallen firefighters with a pipe and drum display.
The 16th annual Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial Concert on the Square ceremony will honor firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty on Thursday, November 14, at 7 p.m. at E. Silver Springs Blvd. and S.E. Magnolia Ave.
Firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty and being honored:
Rafael E. Garcia- Miami Fire Rescue (2015)
Edward M. Wadlinger, III- East Manatee Fire Rescue District (2017)
James P. Herig- Boynton Beach Fire Department (2022)
Gregory A. Bradley- Tice Fire & Rescue District (2023)
Jeffrey B. Day- Pinellas Suncoast/Largo/Villages (2023)
Joseph “Jay” Geld- Melbourne Fire Department (2023)
Terryson Jackson- Broward Sheriff’s Office F/R (2023)
Robert G. Low, Jr.- Greater Naples Fire Rescue District (2023)
Dwight E. Boozer- Lake City Fire Department (2024)
Andy Eyster- Melbourne Fire Department (2024)
Heath J. O’Shea- Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department (2024)
Gregory J. Trammell- Tice Fire and Rescue District (2024)
Charles N. Westphal- Marion County Fire Rescue (2024)
The ceremonies include pipe and drum units, honor guard representation from all over Florida, and a large contingent of fire service leadership. Each family is presented with a memorial medallion and a flag in honor of their loved one at the Ocala service, and the names of the fallen are engraved in granite tablets surrounding the memorials in both Ocala and Tallahassee.
Immediately following the parade, a gathering will be held at Bank Street Patio Bar, which is located within walking distance from the square at 120 E Fort King Street.
UPDATE: This story originally contained an incorrect date.