Firefighters work hard to protect lives and properties.
The job can be difficult and dangerous and it is one that focuses on brotherhood.
The Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department (LBVFD) lost a brother last November while he was on his way to answer a fire call; Henry Van Kessel was in a fatal accident.
The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF) has approved the addition of Van Kessel to its list of those who have died in the line of duty.
On Sept. 11, the Canadian Firefighter Annual Memorial Ceremony will take place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
The application to CFFF initiated by the Cariboo Regional District was also looked over by LBVFD fire chief Mike Collinge.
“Emotionally it was hard to look over the forms, but I wanted to make sure it was all filled out.”
Collinge says he added the family is hoping to have a family member attend the ceremony.
Names of all firefighters who lost there lives since the last ceremony will be read out. In addition, special presentations will be made to the families of those firefighters who were actively employed at the time of their death.
The LBVFD is also planning its own memorial for Van Kessel and two other past members, says Collinge.
He adds they are planning to have a memory garden for Van Kessel, and past LBVFD members Rich Oenema and Erika Reti.
“We are getting some donations from the local greenhouses and we are going to have a large granite stone erected for Henry’s memorial.”
The memory garden may be costly, so the fire chief welcomes any donations. For more information or to donate, contact Collinge at the hall at 250-395-3112 or his home at 250-395-4270, or e-mail vfdlonebutte@cariboord.bc.ca or mccollinge@shaw.ca.
For more information on CFFF, check out the website at www.cfff.ca.
