Over 600 firefighters, families, and friends gathered Sunday, Oct. 5 in Kingdom City for the annual memorial service for Missouri’s fallen firefighters, including three from our area who died in the line of duty earlier this year.

Crowds surrounded the memorial statue and tribute walls as an American flag flew overhead, hoisted by ladder trucks from Affton and Warrensburg. The hour-long ceremony paid tribute to 104 firefighters from around the state who have passed away in the past three years, including ten who died in the line of duty. Russell Hobbs, chief of the Tri-County Fire Protection District in Richland, reflected on the loss of his father Rickey in 2021 as he delivered the keynote address.

Hobbs told attendees that organizations like the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri provided hope and support after his father’s passing, as well as when two other firefighters from his area died within seven months.

Hobbs then paid tribute to each of the ten firefighters being added to the line of duty Wall of Honor, including three from West Central Missouri.

The memorial bell rang three times for each of the fallen firefighters, as each family was presented a statuette of a kneeling firefighter and a copy of a proclamation from the office of Gov. Mike Kehoe.  Among those honored were:

• Capt. Christopher Clevenger of Sweet Springs
• Capt. Vernon Collett of Johnson County
• Deputy Chief Donald Kammerich of Pilot Grove

Another bell rang once for each of the 94 names of firefighters who had recently passed away, including eight from our region:

• Larry Logan Albert Sr, Carrollton FD
• Dennis E Firth, Cowgill FPD
• Jesse David Miller, North Central Carroll FPD
• Robert E Northcott, Gravois Mills FPD
• Jackie Lee O’Dell, Orrick FPD
• Michael Gary Profitt, Tipton FD
• Donald Keith Rogers, Chillicothe FD
• Jeff A Zaring, Centralia FD

Photos from Sunday’s service are below.