Fire Fighter's Ritual

Memory is the priceless heritage of the ages. It is the echoing voice of happy days experience, sad emotions, fond recollections, beautiful friendships, and the comradeship of those whose hearts were true.

“Today we are alone with our memories of those brave Fire fighters of the City of Cambridge who have not returned from the ‘Last Alarm!’ Tradition tells us they are dead; reason tells us they are absent for a while, memory tells us they will be with us all the days of our lives; and faith tells us we shall someday meet them again.

“In the midst of their earthly activities, the pale rider came and singled them to the realms of Eternity. Obedient to duty they laid down their tasks and with fearless smiles on their lips, they responded to the decree from the Great White Throne of eternal love beyond the azure skies.

“Within the enshrouding soil, their mortal bodies repose, so that beloved ones might pilgrimage thither with fragment flower-tokens of affectionate remembrance, but the souls of our departed brothers are on the wings of angels, bound for the far distant shores of eternal bliss, where Thy Almighty Spirit of perfect love will hand to each the priceless gift of immortality.

“Each wind that sweeps back to us from the eternal shores bears the admonishing voices of our departed brothers, who seek to tell that life is short and time is fleeting; the voices tinged with affection and clarified with the wisdom of their new adventure, whisper that it is best for earthly joy to honor our parents, hold as sacred the veneration of The Supreme Being, practice faithfulness in all things, develop fine spirit and high courage, engender generosity to friends, neighbors, and the stranger within our gates, help the unfortunate, fill the hearts with melodious music of tolerance and mercy, be true to our GOD, our homes and our country, and all the days of our lives let our hearts be softened to the beautiful dictates of justice.

“And, thus, dear brothers, when we too respond to our last alarm, we shall find our departed brothers, waiting with the light of love in their eyes to lead us to The Eternal Father who rewards those who love truth, practice charity, honor chastity and stand with justice.

“With deepest reverence, dear brothers, let us bow the head for a little while and say our silent prayer for the repose of the souls of our departed brothers, who never came back from ‘The Last Alarm.’ AMEN”