At 10 a.m. “The memorial honors the Portland firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Bearing the names of twenty Portland firefighters, the first etched in the black marble is Thomas Burnham who lost his life April 28, 1903 after being badly burned in a General Alarm fire at Sturdivant’s Wharf. Burnham had retired from the department in 1878 but was pressed into service to help fight the fire. The memorial, featuring a brick walkway, two engraved benches, and an etched black marble monument was constructed atop/ adjacent to the site of four previous firehouses, the oldest dating back two hundred years where a hand-pump fire engine company was housed. The space was designed as a place for quiet reflection for firefighters, family members and the community. The installation ends a decade-long effort by Portland firefighters to gather community and financial support for the memorial. Last fall, Portland Fire Chief Frederick LaMontagne along with various city officials and community leaders were able to break ground after several businesses including Unum, Quirk Chevrolet, Maine Today Media, Northeast Delta Dental, T.A. Napolitano Electric, MEMIC, Wright Express, Maine Red Claws, Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and the Maine Memorial Company stepped forward to help fund the $30,000 project.” The official dedication ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m.

REPOST (Courtesy of Portland Fire Museum FaceBook page)