Gov. Gregoire remembers fallen firefighters

October 5, 2008

AS WRITTEN

Good morning,

Thank you, Jim, for the kind introduction.
I�m very honored to be here with all of you again�

�And to be completely honest, I�m finding this morning especially poignant.

�Because I�m remembering that at the Fallen Firefighters Memorial last year, I was introduced by my friend, Chief Dan Packer, who is not here with us this morning.

I mention this because it really brings home to me something very, very real.

And it�s that fire fighters�
�Who are also mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, co-workers and friends�

�Can be taken from us very suddenly.

�That is the stark reality of fire fighting.

And that�s why we gather this morning.

We gather to honor and remember three Washington fire fighters who gave their very lives this summer to protect their fellow human beings.

We remember and honor�National Parks Service Fire Fighter Andy Palmer�Kent Fire Fighter Marty Hauer�and East Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Packer.

As we do each year, we also gather to honor and remember all the fallen fire fighters who went before these three brave men�and we express our gratitude for the sacrifices they made too.

Fire Fighter Marty Hauer died this summer of a rare form of cancer � thymic carcinoma � which we know was related to his work.
And I want to tell his wife, Kris, and two young children, how sorry I and my fellow Washingtonians are at your loss.

Marty�s fellow fire fighters lost a good man. Marty was not only a friend to everybody, but a strong advocate for physical fitness, which is vital to fire fighter safety. In fact, Marty was a fitness instructor and brought his skill and passion to fitness seminars all over the country.

Sadly, we also lost a very young man this summer, Andy Palmer, who gave his life fighting a forest fire in Northern California as part of a crew sent down by the Olympic National Park.

Andy stepped forward at the tender age of 18 to help save lives not just here in Washington, but hundreds of miles away in Northern California. Andy sacrificed his life to save the lives of others, and this will be his legacy forever.

On behalf of all Washingtonians, I extend my condolences to his parents, Dr. Robert and Janet Palmer of Port Townsend, and to the rest of his family.

Washingtonians this summer also lost Dan Packer, and also to a forest fire in Northern California. It was so like Dan to volunteer to help his neighbors to the south.

Even in a profession where helping others is what you do, Dan was known for going the extra mile.

And I want to say to Dan�s wife, Marylee (pronounced Marilee), and children and grandchildren -- my heart goes out to you.

Let me also say to all of you in the brotherhood and sisterhood of fire fighters...

I know that losing a fire fighter is the most difficult burden you can bear.

And because you protect us every day, we Washingtonians owe you our sincerest gratitude, support and comfort.

Somebody once said that fire fighters never die.

�Instead, they live forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved.

Would that we could all have such a legacy.

So God Bless our fire fighters�

�God Bless their families�

�And God Bless the United States of America

Thank You