Obama Expected at West, Texas Memorial Service
WEST, TEXAS – On Thursday, President Obama will address the loved ones and colleagues of the responders killed in the fertilizer plant explosion.
A joint memorial service for the firefighters and EMS personnel is set for 2 p.m. Thursday at Baylor University.
Even before word came that Obama was attending, firefighters with the Texas LODD Task Force had been busy tending to the needs of the family members of the fallen heroes. A liaison has been assigned to each.
Killed in the blast that registered 2.1 on the Richter scale were West firefighters Morris Bridges, 41; Cody Dragoo, 50; Joseph Pustejousky; Douglas Snokhous, 50; and Robert Snokhous, 48.
Others killed were Dallas Fire-Rescue: Kenny Harris; Abbott FD/West EMS: Cyrus Reed and Jerry Chapman; Merknel FD/West EMS: Perry Calvin; and Bruceville Eddy FD/EMS: Kevin Sanders.
Two men who helped at the scene were made honorary firefighters by West. They are Jimmy Matus, 52, a well-loved member of the community, who helped build the department's engines as the owner of Westex Welding, and William Uptmor Jr., who led horses to safety in a field, and joined the firefighters in their effort.
The liaisons have been with the families helping to make arrangements and compose eulogies as well as explain the events that will take place at the memorial service, such as presentations of flags, a procession of apparatus and the sea of blue.
The families have been providing photographs and selecting music.
Planning a firefighter memorial service is a daunting task in itself, but this one requires more detail due to the number of responders being honored.
That’s why some who helped plan the memorial for the nine Charleston firefighters have traveled to Texas.
“We’re here to help and offer suggestions based on how we did things,” said Zorrina Harmon, benefits director for the South Carolina State Firemen’s Association, adding that it’s an honor to lend a hand during this difficult time.
“We’ve heard from a lot of firefighters planning to attend,” said Jim Byers, with the Texas LODD Task Force. “We’ve been getting a lot of calls from everywhere.”
Byers as well as other officials are working with the Secret Service on various security measures that will be in place Thursday.
The honor guards and flag presenters will have a rehearsal to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Byers said regardless of the heightened security, the service to honor the fallen heroes will be a memorable one.
