Fallen firefighters honored at Capitol

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri firefighters mourned the lives of colleagues lost in the line of duty Thursday in an emotional ceremony made more solemn because of the Sept. 11 attacks.

More than 100 firefighters and family members, many with tears in their eyes, gathered under the stately Capitol Dome to remember three fallen Missouri comrades and the 343 firefighters who died in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York.

Nationally, 441 firefighters died last year.

"We appreciate your noble commitment to public service. Sadly, our firefighters' commitment to protect and serve places them in harms way and sometimes leads to great tragedy," Gov. Bob Holden said. "This year has been a particularly difficult one for our nation."

The Missouri firefighters who died were Ritchie J. Eutsler of the Republic Fire Department, Travis Brown of the Dearborn Area Fire Protection District and Mark Edwards of the Gower Fire Protection District.

Eutsler died in his sleep while on duty. Edwards died from surgery complications after a firehouse fall. Brown was killed in a traffic accident while responding to a fire. A former volunteer firefighter was charged with second-degree murder and other crimes for setting the fire to which Brown was responding.

"These three men are great heroes," Holden said. "They gave their lives as they lived them -- with honor, integrity, bravery and a dedication to serving others."

The memorial began with the Boone County Pipes and Drums blowing bagpipes and beating a snare drum while clad in kilts. The Multi-Agency Color Guard bore golden axes and Missouri, fire district and U.S. flags.

After the name of each Missouri firefighter who died last year was read, a red rose was placed in a crystalline vase and a ceremonial bell was struck. A rose was also given for all firefighters who perished.

The ceremony concluded with a bagpiper's rendition of "Amazing Grace" and a trumpeter playing "Taps.