Hundreds of off-duty firefighters and rescue crews marched in their dress uniforms through downtown Thursday morning to honor fallen Jacksonville firefighters.
Our News4Jax partner reports the Sea of Blue Memorial March was a mile-long parade from South Hogan Street to Fire Station One, where the Fallen Firefighter Memorial stands with 22 names of men who lost their lives in the line of duty.
People lined the streets to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving our city.
News4Jax Photos: Honoring Fallen First responders With 'Sea of Blue'
"Every time those firefighters get on those trucks, there's always a risk they may end up on that wall," said Randy Wyse, president of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters.
Wyse knows several of the firefighters whose names are engraved on the wall, including Karl "Klif" Kramer, 22, who died from heatstroke in 2005.
"Those are the names that, they knew those people personally," Wyse said. "That's why it's so important to us on that day to show respect."
At a ceremony that followed the march, the names on the memorial were read aloud and the pipes and drums played, followed by a 21-gun salute.
On News4Jax you’ll find a list of each of the fallen first responders that were honored.
