This message is from Dan McInerney:
I recently attended the LODD (Line of Duty Death) memorial service in Toledo. On a personal note, two years ago, I was teaching a live-fire attack class for Bowling Green State University, and Firefighter James Dickman was one of the students. I remember him clearly—he was very enthusiastic, full of energy, and his passion for the fire service was obvious.While I was in Toledo, I witnessed an incredible outpouring of emotion from both firefighters and citizens alike. It was a deeply moving experience to see how everyone came together during such a difficult time. The tragedy hit the whole city hard, and now that we know it was an act of arson, it only adds to the pain and loss felt by so many.I’ve attached a few photos from the Thursday night service. They were taken with a cell phone camera, and the lighting wasn’t great, but they still capture the somber and heartfelt atmosphere of the event.
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Dan McInerney photo
Also from Dan, here’s the service program.
Drew Smith shared this powerful editorial piece from the Toledo Free Press that was published before the funerals:
Ever since the first snowstorm hit and Northwest Ohio was buried under nearly two feet of snow, this winter has felt different. In recent years, our winters have been unusually mild, especially for where we live and our history. When the near-blizzard of 2014 struck, I saw posts on social media from family members of local firefighters and police officers highlighting just how dangerous their jobs had become.
While we were all safe and warm under a level 3 snow emergency, these brave men and women were out in the worst conditions. Police officers were navigating icy roads, rescuing drivers who shouldn’t have left their homes but needed to pick up one last thing from the mall. Firefighters had their calls increase for various reasons—from handling health-related injuries to dealing with electric heaters catching fire.
All the while, people were sharing water-based experiments online showing how cold it really was. We were all amazed, but few of us thought about those who had to use water in these extreme conditions to save lives or buildings.
The events of January 26 made this winter unbearable.
There's something about my West Side neighborhood that seems to produce a lot of teachers, police officers, and firefighters. One of my classmates lost her husband and the father of her children when TPD Detective Keith Dressel was killed in 2007. I remember how shocked I was when I recognized her face on TV—how it immediately hit me in the stomach and brought tears to my eyes. This wasn't happening in New York or Chicago—it was happening right here in Toledo. I thought about her kids and how their lives were forever changed by both their father’s heroism and a senseless act of violence.
My Sunday was filled with comfort: wine, a warm fire, and good TV. My phone was blowing up with unanswered texts from friends letting me know what had happened and asking if I knew any of the firefighters who had died. I had no idea. I reached out to friends and family who love firefighters. The first name I heard was Machcinski, and my heart stopped. Everyone in Toledo knows a Machcinski; Steve and I went to Whitmer together.
The second name came with a story that made it even worse. The other firefighter, James Dickman, was new to the Toledo Fire Department and a new father. How proud he must have been, having finally achieved his dream after years of hard work. His future was as bright as the flames he would soon be facing, all of it extinguished in an instant.
I realized that new faces would join Danielle Dressel and her children. That two more families had lost sons, brothers, husbands, and in Dickman’s case, fathers. That two men who left for work never returned, all because they wanted to keep us safe while providing for their loved ones.
This didn’t happen in Detroit or Chicago—it happened on Magnolia Street. We’re lucky that fires and arsons haven’t claimed more lives in our area. Our luck ran out yesterday.
Please join me. As a sign of respect, love, and gratitude for the two lives lost and those who survived, I think we Toledoans should line the streets of the funeral processions and say goodbye to the fallen heroes and their families. Let’s show these grieving families that their sacrifices won’t be forgotten and that these names will be remembered. Let’s show those who carry ladders and hoses or guns that we appreciate and love them for what they do. Let’s remind our children what a real superhero looks like and what the noblest jobs are.
It may be -50 degrees outside when these fallen heroes pass by for the last time, but the weather shouldn’t stop you—it didn’t stop them when they were fighting that fire. It will once again remind the world of the strength and heart we have and who we are. On our coldest day in recent decades, let’s give warmth to those who need it most.
If your heart isn’t broken or at least heavy, then you must not be from the 419. We all love to complain about how miserable this winter feels, but 99 percent of us have no idea how cold and dangerous it has been.
To the grieving families and brothers and sisters of the Toledo Fire Department: I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. These lives will not be forgotten.
Special Silicone Sealant For Large Panel Glass
Special silicone sealant for large panel glass, silicone sealant for large panel glass, Special silicone sealant for glass
Shandong Gufeng Technology Co., LTD. , https://www.gfkjgs.com