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205’s Final Call
By Chris | June 23, 2007
We did Brandon’s funeral today. It was difficult, but most of us held it together until the burial, when Central (though interrupted by Engine 33) conducted the final call for Brandon. The dispatcher, Rachel, toned the company, which set off all the pagers and radios of the members. Then she radioed his calls sign, 205, three times, each with no answer. At that point we all lost it. She read the verbage, ‘205, Captain Brandon Thompson of Pine Ridge Fire Department has answered his final call…’ It was difficult…
The procession from Summerville to Stratford High School was long, and it got longer at College Park Rd, where about 20 City of Charleston apparatus joined the procession. Afterwards, we went from Stratford down College Park Rd and passed our station, where they paused to ring the ceremonial bell. We then proceeded to Plantation Memorial Gardens. There were so many firetrucks that we had them backed up on Hwy 17A. All along both processions people had stopped and some stood there in silence, some saluted, some hands over their hearts. It was nice to see the show of support. On I-26 some people even stopped on the opposite (westbound) side of the roadway.
Tomorrow we have Mike’s funeral, but for right now, I need some sleep.
WCBD, Channel 2, has coverage on it (the video link wasn’t working as of 2300 tonight).
Topics: Fire Dept, News, Public Safety |
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