Malverne Firefighters Remember Fallen Brothers [Video and Photos]

The mood was somber Sunday morning as Malverne firefighters stood at attention, circling around a memorial dedicated to their fallen brothers.

They gathered, along with residents and village officials, across the street from their firehouse to hold a brief remembrance ceremony, as they do every year, to honor the members who have their lost lives in service. Among them are men who perished while responding to calls of a fire within the community. Others answered Uncle Sam's call to join the military but never returned home to their families.

The firefighters placed two wreaths at the memorial and later rang the department's memorial bell. It tolled four times to remember those members who passed away during the year and others who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty including Warren Rasweiler and Edward Flaherty, Sr., whose names were added to the memorial plaque hanging in the firehouse, Fred Schrieber, who passed away on April 18, 1937, and who died on July 30, 2006 from an accident that occurred while training with the department.

After the final bell tolled, the small crowd stood in silence as Taps was played.

"We will never forget the sacrifices of these individuals and their families,"department spokesman Dave Gildea said.

Malverne Fire Commissioner Patricia Callahan told the firefighters that she was honored to attend the ceremony. "I'm especially honored that I'm able to continue the work that my husband did," she said. "He really felt a great affection for everyone here."

The ceremony reminded Mayor Patricia Norris McDonald of all the sacrifices that are made my volunteers in Malverne and across the country.

"I'm very proud to be a part of this community and to see the amount of volunteerism," she said. "Just seeing how many younger people are joining this department says a lot about the older - no offense - more experienced volunteer firemen that have been in this department for many years. It says a lot about you and the job that you've done and continue to do that the younger generation want to follow in your footsteps."

She then added, "The individuals who are being honored this morning...our love and prayers go out to you and your families."

Check out photos and video from the ceremony above.