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WISCONSIN STATE FIREFIGHTERS
MEMORIAL
FINAL ALARM BELL TOWER
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
ASSISTANT CHIEF MICHAEL J. KILPATRICK
NORTH LAKE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
NORTH LAKE, WISCONSIN
DIED IN THE LINE-OF-DUTY
OCTOBER 7, 2004
AND ALL WISCONSIN FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE MADE
THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WHILE IN SERVICE TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
METALWORK PROVIDED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF
FAMILY,
FRIENDS, AND MEMBERS OF THE NORTH LAKE
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT |
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The men and women of today's fire service are
confronted with a more dangerous work environment than ever before.
We are forced to continually change our strategies and tactics to
accomplish our tasks.
Our methods may change, but our goals remain the same as they
were in the past, to save lives and to protect property, sometimes
at a terrible cost. This is what we do, this is our chosen
profession, this is the tradition of the firefighter.
The fire service of today is ever changing, but is steeped in
traditions 200 years old. One such tradition is the sound of a
bell.
In the past, as firefighters began their tour of duty, it was
the bell that signaled the beginning of that day's shift.
Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by a bell,
which summoned these brave souls to fight fires and to place their
lives in jeopardy for the good of their fellow citizen. And when
the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bell
that signaled to all the completion of that call. When a
firefighter had died in the line of duty, paying the supreme
sacrifice, it was the mournful toll of the bell that solemnly
announced a comrade's passing.
We utilize these traditions as symbols, which reflect honor and
respect on those who have given so much and who have served so
well. To symbolize the devotion that these brave souls had for
their duty, a special signal of three rings, three times each,
represents the end of our comrades' duties and that they will be
returning to quarters. And so, to those who have selflessly given
their lives for the good of their fellow man, their tasks
completed, their duties well done, to our comrades, their last
alarm, they are going home. |