Paying tribute

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL Chaplain Michael Bowen of the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department salutes the American flag Saturday during the playing of "Taps" and "Amazing Grace." E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo From left, Bob Hall, Michael Sharpe and Jason Sharpe, all of the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department, complete a ceremonial folding of the American flag. Click here to enlarge this photo Maurice Cox of the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department rings a bell for each fallen firefighter while George Anderson of the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad stands ready with a white rose to be placed in a firefighter's boot.

The second annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service was held Saturday at Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens in Port Republic. The service paid tribute to four non-service related deaths in the last year and three volunteers who died in the line of duty in decades past. Those who died in the last year are Russel I. Boyd, Judy Skinner, Marvin "Sonny" Ladd, Sr., and Robert L. Hall, Sr. The other three are Larry Cox (1970), Donald A. Bowen (1980) and W. David Gott (1988). The Calvert County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association is raising money to erect a permanent memorial at the gardens in the near future.