Two hundred firefighters from Columbus and other local departments will be working in Cincinnati on Wednesday so that local firefighters can attend the funeral of Daryl Gordon, who died in the line of duty last Thursday.
Doug Stern with the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, and a Cincinnati firefighter, says it's a fire service tradition.
“The Columbus firefighters felt it was a better tribute for them to pay Daryl, to allow the brothers and sisters he worked with to be here,” Stern says. “So it was agreed with both cities’ administrations and the other areas' administrations that those firefighters be allowed to cover. It really is the only time something like this happen is for a line of duty death funeral.”
Stern says at least one Cincinnati firefighter who knows the area will be with every unit. Other local fire departments covering Cincinnati shifts include Covington, Anderson, Delhi, Hamilton and Deerfield Township. Other Hamilton County departments will cover the medical units to allow as many Cincinnati firefighters as possible to attend the funeral.
An estimated 3,500 firefighters from around the country are expected at the funeral. Stern says Detroit, Cleveland, Ann Arbor, and Indianapolis are all sending busloads of firefighters. He says he received a call from Birmingham, England, asking about arrangements and how they could send a representative.
Symbolism
Stern says the services and procession for a fallen firefighter are rich in symbolism.
“Everything from the crossed aerials along the way where we put two aerial trucks up with their ladder tips touching, and an American flag hanging from them, as a symbol of Daryl’s bridge to the next life," Stern says.
“Daryl’s casket will be carried on Engine 14, which is symbolic of his last ride on his fire company, responding to his final call,” he says.
Stern says there will also be a final call ceremony at the cemetery.
“For years, firefighters started their day with the ringing of a bell to signify it was time to begin their shift," Stern says. "And every call they went to was rung out on bells in corresponding alarm areas. So, as a way of signaling Daryl answering his final alarm, we will ring those bells at the graveside signifying that he is home. He has completed his final call.”
Stern says there will be another special salute because Gordon was also a bomb technician.
“They’re going to call 'fire in the hole' three times, which is what they do when they train," Stern says. "And then they’re going to let off a charge, in honor of Daryl and his service to the {explosive ordinance disposal} community.”
The visitation is Tuesday afternoon at the Duke Energy Convention Center from 3 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Gordon's funeral is Wednesday morning at St. Peter in Chains cathedral, Downtown. He will be buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in the afternoon. Those ceremonies are closed to the public.
Procession Details and Street Closures
PROCESSION TO CHURCH
- 8:55 am Funeral Procession begins at Engine 14
- Spectators should be in place at 8:45 am
- Shuttles available for spectators
- Walking Procession goes north on Central Ave, past Fire Fighters Memorial
- East on 6th St, North on Plum to Cathedral.
PROCESSION TO CEMETERYBegin approx. 12 noon
- North on Plum St to East on Court St.
- North on Elm to East on Central Parkway to North on Reading Rd.
- Reading Rd past Engine 9’s Fire House to West on Seymour
- Seymour Rd past Engine 2’s Fire House to North on Vine St.
- Vine St. North to Springfield Pike to Congress to Rt 747 to Cemetery
STREET CLOSURES
6 a.m.
- 9th St. Central Av. and Linn St. closed
- (Mound St. will be able to enter I-75 NB)
7:30 a.m.
- 7th St. Linn St. to Elm St. closed
- All ramps leading to 7th St. from Gest St. and I-75 closed
- 6th St. Elm St. to Central Av. closed
- 5th St. Central Av. to Elm St. closed
- All Ramps leading to 5th St. from I-75 closed
- 4th St. Plum St. to Central Av. closed
- Central Av. 3rd St. to 9th St. closed
- Plum St. 9th St. to 6th St. closed
These roads will be opened once the need for staging has left the area.
