irefighters from across the state will gather Saturday to honor seven of their own who gave their lives in the line of duty during the past year.
Each October, a ceremony is held at the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial in Ben Hansen Park in Wisconsin Rapids that includes the reading of the names on the memorial, playing of bagpipes, choral presentations and the traditional Firefighter's Bell Ceremony. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which begins at 3:33 p.m. Saturday on the lawn surrounding the memorial.
The names of the seven firefighters to be honored this year, who all died from COVID-19, will be added to the wall before the ceremony.
Last year, three of the six firefighters who were honored died from COVID, said Jim Luty, retired firefighter and president of the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial Board of Directors.