Texas memorial honors 11 volunteer firefighters lost in the line of duty

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday morning, the State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshalls’ Association of Texas (SFFMA) will host a memorial service to honor volunteer firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

A release from SFFMA said the memorial service will be held at the Volunteer Firemen’s Memorial monument on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The release said that throughout legislative years, it has held memorial services like this one to pay respects to the fallen volunteer firefighters. This year, 11 fallen firefighters will be honored.

“This solemn service at the monument on the Capitol grounds is a beautiful way for us to pay our respects to volunteer firefighters lost in the line of duty,” SFFMA Executive Director Cherry Kay Abel said.

Families, friends, brothers, and sisters of respective departments are welcomed to gather at the south lawn of the Texas Capitol. Bagpipe and drum corps will be in attendance, traditional bell ringing will occur, along with a few heartfelt words from the SFFMA board president and other members.

Families of the fallen will receive a flag once flown over the Texas Capitol and roses. The following names of each of the 11 fallen volunteer firefighters will also be etched onto the Volunteer Firemen’s Memorial monument.

• Dan Wright, Jr. – Abbott Volunteer Fire Department
• Nahit Oral – Community Volunteer Fire Department
• Joe Parrish – Diboll Volunteer Fire Department
• Zeb Smith – Fritch Volunteer Fire Department
• John Norris – Forest Bend Fire Department
• Richard Hempel – Groesbeck Volunteer Fire Department
• Evan Curtis Brown – Honey Grove Volunteer Fire Department
• Robert Lahar II – Maxwell Volunteer Fire Department
• Scott Glass – Perryton Fire Department
• Edward Hykel, Jr. – West Volunteer Fire Department
• Daniel Potts – Whitney Fire Department