INDIANAPOLIS — There are 72 of them. Professional Indianapolis firefighters who have died in the line of duty during the department's long history.
Wednesday, at the Marion County Fallen Firefighter Memorial Plaza, the names of all 72 were read during a ceremony now in its 24th year.
The historic bell tower on Massachusetts Avenue sounded as each name was read and a carnation was placed in a vase at the bottom of the monument.
Located adjacent to the Firefighter’s Local 416 union hall, the memorial lists and honors all Indianapolis firefighters killed in the line of duty since records began in the 19th century.
The idea for the memorial began in 1992 when flames ravaged the Athletic Club in downtown Indianapolis and left two firefighters dead and several more injured.
