DOC MILLEN HONOURED Woodslee works to restore strong sense of community COMPETITIONS, PARADES AND CAMARADERIE Out-of-town firefighters enjoy FFAO weekend BEARS DEFEAT RAVENS Season ends with 7-1 record for Essex OVFL team See COMMUNITY Page 9 See COMMUNITY Page 12 See SPORTS Page 15 $1.00 "Serving Essex and Community Since 1896" (GST included) Whole Number 6198 Registration No. 08565 Volume 127 No. 32 Phone: 776-4268 Fax: 776-4014 723-2290 · ESSEX Wednesday, August 9, 2006 http://essexfreepress.reinvented.net FFAO honours fallen firefighters BY DANIEL SCHWAB For crowds lined up along Talbot Street in Essex Sunday morning, the first sound to be heard was the thundering of drums and the melodic drone of bagpipes. Moments later, hundreds of firefighters in dress uniform came around the corner of Fairview Avenue West and began marching proudly towards downtown. The Sun Parlor Pipes and Drums band kept time for the rows of firefighters stepping in unison, some carrying flags of Canada, the U.S. and the Fire Fighters'Association of Ontario. Stopping in front of the Essex Cenotaph beside town hall, they began a memorial service for firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. FFAO chaplain Rev. Stephen R. Berryman led the ceremony with a scripture reading and words of encouragement. "As firefighters, we know what it's like to drop everything to respond to a call," Berryman announced to the crowd. "We have a knee-jerk response to drop everything when there is a fire. Saying that, we are privileged to experience what very few people get to experience. And our lives are enriched by serving our communities." HONOURING FALLEN COMRADES Retired Nobleton Fire Chief Ross Kennedy, left, sings a hymn or firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Kennedy was one of hundreds of fireighters who participated in a memorial service at the Essex Cenotaph beside town hall Aug. 6. he ceremony included memorial prayers, a commendation of the departed and a march own Talbot Street South. Please turn to page 12 for more on the FFAO convention. The service specifically honoured a number of Ontario firefighters who have died while responding to calls, including David Booky of Stevenson Fire Department and others from Milton, Burlington and Mount Forest services. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, every year five Canadian firefighters make the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities. Since 1970, about 170 Canadian fire fighters have lost their lives while on duty. Chief Ed Pillon said although the Essex Fire and Rescue Service hasn't suffered any on-duty casualties in recent memory, organizers of the ceremony wanted to remember comrades who died within the past year. "In this ceremony we wanted to all work together to help remember those who've gone ahead of us in an honourable way," Pillon said. The service also featured memorial prayers, a placing of wreaths on the Cenotaph and a formal commendation of the departed. The ceremony concluded with the entourage circling around Laird Avenue, Jenner Street and Iler Avenue on its way back toward Essex Memorial Arena. DAN SCHWAB / FREE PRESS Come see our 2006's now! 7180 Tecumseh Rd. E. Windsor 945-8100