Salem Fire Department to Be Honored for Service

The City of Salem will honor the for its two decades of service during a community ceremony on Tuesday at the .

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution to honor the Salem Fire Department at a special meeting last Thursday evening. The effort comes a little more than two weeks after Peabody firefighter .

In light of recent events in our neighboring city, Ward 6 Councilor Paul Prevey said residents, including the , decided it was time to honor those "who risk their lives every day protecting the citizens of Salem."

"It's times like these that we really stop and take a serious look at what our men and women do on the fire department in terms of putting their lives on the line," Prevey said.

A resolution read before the City of Salem recognizes the fact that members of the "Salem Fire Department have always risen to the occasion to fight many of the historical fires in Salem, namely the Great Salem Fire of 1914 and many others." It acknowledged the "countless act of courage bravery, heroism and sacrifice exhibited by the department throughout the years."

Councilor Emeritus Joseph O'Keefe, who is also a retired state fire marshal and has several children on the department, spoke to the council about the Salem Fire Department's actions on Dec. 23, 2011.

In addition to Engine 2's response as mutual aid during the fire, O'Keefe said Engine 4 served as an escort down to Boston the night of the tragedy. During the procession on the way to Boston, members of the Salem Fire Department gathered outside of Engine Four North Street to honor their fallen brother.

"They all had their coats and helmets on," O'Keefe said. "I was mystified and proud...Brothers were helping brothers," O'Keefe said. I'm very proud of what Councilor Prevey did (by bringing forth the resolution) and I'm very proud of what….what the Salem Fire Department did."

Beverlie McSwiggin of the Mack Park Neighborhood Association, explained why the neighborhood opted to honor the department.

"We decided it always seems that a tragedy has to happen before you realize what firefighters do for us, so lets honor the Salem Fire Department now," she wrote in an email to Salem Patch.

"The story I always hear about firefighters is they are running into a building while everyone else is running out."

The Salem Fire Department will be honored tonight (Tuesday) at the Moose beginning at 6:30 p.m.