At the end of last week, state Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis honored Florida’s fallen firefighters following the memorial event at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala.
There were 16 fallen firefighters recognized during the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial at the Fire College. Additionally, Patronis addressed the families of the fallen firefighters and the fire service community at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Parade in downtown Ocala Thursday night.
“When a Florida firefighter falls in the line of duty, a community loses a hero, a state loses a protector, and the world loses a beacon of courage and selflessness. Firefighting isn’t just a job; it’s a calling, and their unwavering dedication to protecting their communities is reflected in the lives of those they serve. To the families that have lost a loved one to the fire service, my heart goes out to you. Rest assured that their memory will continue to live on and inspire generations to come, reminding us of the profound sacrifice made by those who choose to walk towards danger while others run away,” said Patronis.
A list of the honored fallen firefighters is below:
Raymond J. Hennessey – 1996 – Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
Henry Cusell – 2003 – Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
Michael J. Thompson – 2009 – Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
Jim W. Vinsand, Sr. – 2017 – Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
George F. Braun – 2018 – Gainesville Fire Rescue
Thomas J. Cook – 2020 – Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
Graeme Gilmour – 2021 – Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
Jeffrey Smith – 2021 – Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
Daryle Blankenship – 2022 – Titusville Fire Department
Austin Duran – 2022 – Apopka Fire Department
Robert E. Garmon, Jr. – 2022 – Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
Hillary C. Kanwischer – 2022 – North Lauderdale Fire Rescue
Michael Riley – 2022 – St. Augustine Fire Department
Richard B. Wolnewitz – 2022 – Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue
Mark Reuter – 2023 – Riviera Beach Fire Rescue
Jason C. Tucker – 2023 – Pasco County Fire Rescue
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