Residents near to the fire station may have heard a bell tolling early Sunday morning as firefighters carried on what has been a nearly 50-year tradition at the Raynham Fire Department. “It’s our Memorial Day,” said Capt. Jeff Kelleher, describing Raynham’s version of the Firefighters Memorial Sunday, which he said is carried out by many fire departments across the country.
Kelleher — who has presided over the service for 24 years — said that Sunday’s 8:30 a.m. event included the reading from two plaques the 86 names of Raynham firefighters who have passed away over the years, each with the toll of the bell outside the station. Newly appointed Chief Ryan LaCivita then laid a wreath at the foot of the station’s firefighters memorial as the flag was raised to full staff, followed by taps played by Bridgewater-Raynham graduate Josselyn Donahue and a moment of silence. More than 40 people, mainly retired firefighters and their families, attended the event, as well as current and future full and part-time members of the department.