The sound of a bell holds special significance for firefighters. Historically, the toll of a bell summoned members to the station, signaled the beginning of a shift, notified departments of a call for help, and indicated a call was completed and the unit had returned to the station.

Departments sounded a series of bells when a firefighter died in the line of duty to alert all members that a comrade had made the ultimate sacrifice. This time-honored tradition continues today during the funerals or memorial services for firefighters.

Bells will ring from coast to coast as a grateful nation pauses on Sunday, October 9, 2022 to honor those firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2021. Fire departments and their places of worship will join the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) for Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters, part of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

We will be honoring Missouri firefighters who passed in 2021:

• Bryant Gladney, Boone County Fire Protection District
• Rodney L. Heard Sr., St. Louis Fire Department
• James Dale “Jimmy” Jenkins, Belgrade Volunteer Fire Department
• Ivan D. LaGrand, Cape Girardeau Fire Department
• Marvin F. Shaffrey, Cedar Hill Fire Protection District