Sunday, October 6th @ 12:15 p.m.

Nature: Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters

Address: Community Church of Oak Orchard across from the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company - Main Station - Oak Orchard

On Sunday, October 6th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company and the Oak Orchard Community Church participated in a partnership to honor and pay tribute as well as joining the efforts of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation with the Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters.

The sound of a bell holds special significance for firefighters. Historically, the toll of a bell summoned members to the station, signaled the beginning of a shift, notified departments of a call for help, and indicated a call was completed and the unit had returned to the station.

Departments sounded a series of bells when a firefighter died in the line of duty to alert all members that a comrade had made the ultimate sacrifice. This time-honored tradition continues today during the funerals or memorial services for firefighters.

For the third consecutive year, bells will ring from coast to coast as a grateful nation pauses on Sunday, October 6, 2013 to honor those firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2012 and previous years. Fire departments and their places of worship will join the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) for the Third Annual Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters, part of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation asked communities, fire service organizations, and religious organizations to help us honor our fallen firefighters by participating in Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters. A moment of remembrance can occur at any time during Memorial Weekend, October 5 & 6. Fire department representatives are encouraged to work with their clergy and community leaders to develop an appropriate tribute.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company performed a specific tribute with bell rings of 5-5-5 to Honor Dagsboro Firefighter Justin Townsend who lost his life in the line of duty while responding to a fire as well as the other fallen firefighters.

The 5-5-5 Bell Tolling emphasizes a long standing tradition with the following explanation. “Long before telephones and radios, fire department used the telegraph to communicate. When the handle was pulled on the once familiar red fire alarm boxes found on nearly every street corner of America, a special code was transmitted to every fire station.

When a firefighter died in the line of duty, the fire alarm office would tap out a special signal. That signal was five measured dashers, then a pause, then five measured dashes, another pause, then five more dashes.

This became universally known as the Tolling of the Bell and was broadcast over all telegraph fire alarm circuits. This signal was a sign of honor and respect for all firefighters who had made the ultimate sacrifice and has become a time honored tradition.”

During the ceremony with the Community Church of Oak Orchard, the bell tolling was coordinated by retired firefighter John Rossiter.

The Rev. J. Allen Miller, Chaplain - Indian River Volunteer Fire Company coordinated the ceremonial prayer and words of faith and President Patrick Miller coordinated the explanation of events and provided specific commentary regarding the Line of Duty Deaths within the State of Delaware, which stated that there has been 51 Line of duty Deaths in Delaware. The first recorded firefighter fatality was in 1890 and was City of Wilmington firefighter. The latest recorder firefighter fatality was in September 2012 when neighboring Dagsboro Fire Company incurred a Line of Duty Death with the passing of Justin Townsend. Nationwide, there have been 81 recorded Line of Duty Deaths in the United States during the current year and this is who we are memorializing for their ultimate sacrifice.

Additional information may be obtained by viewing the following websites:

* Dagsboro Fire Company - http://dagsborovfd.com/gallery.cfm?id=396&ss=1

You may view the following websites to gather further information:

* Bells Across America Participants:

http://www.bellsacrossamerica.com/participants13.html

*  Additional Information regarding Bells Across America

http://weekend.firehero.org/media/2013/bells_080613.html