Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater hosted a ceremony Tuesday to honor the lives of Florida’s fallen firefighters.
Joined by a Joint Honor Guard, Atwater in his capacity as the state fire marshal explained the significance of the “Ringing of the Bell” ceremony.
“We ring the bell three times, three rings each, nine rings,” he said. “With each ring we mark the ending of the final call for their brave souls, the souls of all those honored on this wall, the ones who lost their lives, but did so bravely, and did so with such honor, it makes their last call, the one that brought them home.”
Atwater spoke in front of the Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the State Capitol grounds Tuesday. He also acknowledged Glen Rhodes of the Sanibel Fire Control District, whose name was etched in the memorial last year. Atwater says it was a long time coming since Rhodes died in the line of duty about 50 years ago.
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