JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 On Thursday morning, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, JFRD, held its annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony, dedicated to remembering and honoring the legacies of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. <\/p>\n
The ceremony saw an outpouring of support from family members, firefighters, residents, and city officials as they gathered at the Jacksonville Fireman\u2019s Memorial outside JFRD Station One downtown. They came together to honor the now 28 fallen firefighters whose names are etched in the plaque of the memorial. <\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cFirefighter memorial where we honor our fallen firefighters who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,\u201d said Director\/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. <\/p>\n This year, two names were added to the memorial: Engineer Ian Church and Engineer Jason Woodruff. <\/p>\n Their coworkers and friends spoke movingly about the two men, remembering them as individuals who were intensely passionate about their careers and were always there for their friends, family, and especially the Jacksonville community. <\/p>\n Lieutenant Scott Abel, JFRD, remembered Woodruff: \u201cThat\u2019s Woody. He was thorough, caring, and relentless in all the right ways.\u201d <\/p>\n Engineer Josh Davis, JFRD, spoke of Church: \u201cHe loved his wife and his children, but he also loved being a firefighter.\u201d <\/p>\n Tragically, the deep love Church and Woodruff had for their jobs affected their health. Both firefighters died last year from occupational-related cancers. <\/p>\n