By Denny Walsh
dwalsh@sacbee.com
Firefighters in their dark dress uniforms with white hats and belts, along with family members and dignitaries, gathered Saturday in Sacramento to pay tribute to 30 of their own who died protecting the lives and property of Californians.
Continuing a sobering autumn tradition, the names of those who fell in the line of duty, including 18 who died from injuries or job-related illness in the past 12 months and 12 others from earlier years, were added to a polished limestone wall at the California Firefighters Memorial on the east grounds of Capitol Park.
"These are real individuals with specific stories about how they met the challenge," Gov. Jerry Brown told the crowd. The message here, he said, is that "what we do cannot be all about 'What's in it for me?'"
Their ultimate sacrifice is "an example to transform our own lives and communities." the governor added. "So we honor, even as we mourn."
The centerpiece of the annual event is the solemn presentation of a folded, framed American flag to a family member, friend or representative of each one honored. As a flag changes hands, one ring of a traditional brass fire bell echoes through the park, signifying a firefighter's final call to duty.
The names added Saturday bring the wall's total to 1,206. They go all the way back to 1850, when California became a state.
Another feature of the ceremony was a moving tribute by Vallejo firefighter Brett Smith, whose best friend - Alameda firefighter Scott Carnevale - died earlier this year of job-related cancer.
"The men and women whose names are on this wall traded every tomorrow they would ever know to do a job most would not be able to do," Smith said. "That is dedication. That is honorable. That is how we should remember them."
Call The Bee's Denny Walsh, (916) 321-1189.
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