The city of Columbus and the Columbus Fire Department will participate in this year’s “Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters,” a national campaign calling for the illumination of landmarks and fire stations to recognize firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
Firefighters have requested that the Robert Stewart bridge be illuminated in red from Sunday through Oct. 6 to coincide with the observance of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.
Indiana is scheduled to have four cities illuminating landmarks as part of the observance. In addition to the Stewart bridge in Columbus, the landmarks include the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge in Fort Wayne, the IPL Building in Indianapolis and the River Lights Plaza in South Bend.
The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be Oct. 6 in Emmetsburg, Maryland, honoring 119 firefighters. Of that total, 92 died in the line of duty during 2018, and the list includes 27 additional firefighters who died in previous years.
Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay said he hopes those who see the Stewart bridge illuminated in red will share a moment of respect and reflection for all firefighters who have given their lives during the call of duty.
“When a member of the fire service makes the ultimate sacrifice in a community hundreds of miles from Columbus, we feel the loss here at home. The Light the Night program illustrates our respectful connection with the communities and fire departments who have suffered a loss.”
