How Firefighters Honor Their Brothers

When a good man dies, the community takes notice. When a firefighter dies, whether in the line of duty or not, the immediate community takes notice, but so does every other firefighter in the community and quite frankly the world.

James Waugaman, Jr passed away on November 11, his passing was felt throughout the community of Brunswick. He wasn't just another citizen of the small Ohio town; he was the founding member of Brunswick Old Fashioned Days, the largest volunteer festival in Medina county. He was Chief Emeritus of the Brunswick Fire Department and very active in the Ohio Firefighters Association. He lived his 77 years in service to his community.

A few months later Brunswick lost another great man, Fred Hoffman. He passed away at age 94 and his resume is just as amazing as James'. He was an original volunteer member of the Brunswick Hills Fire Department and late Assistant Chief Emeritus of the Brunswick Hills FD. He was fighting fires in his community before they started to pay firefighters to do the work. He obviously loved what he did and loved his community.

Well June 24th, the community gave something back to these two great men, two firefighters who gave all they had to their community and their brothers in arms. The Old Fashioned Days parade was lining up and a special honor to anchor the parade this year.

Walking around the Brunswick Fire Department on this cool morning you can hear all the firefighters talking about Jim and Fred. "I knew Jim well, he helped me find my way into the fire service." is what I heard from many different firefighters. They came as far away as Youngstown to drive their fire trucks in what was being billed as a possible world record. There were apparatus from years as far back as 1916 and as recent as 2012.

Brunswick councilman Brian Ousley said, "we aren't going to break a world record today and that's not important. What is important is that we remember Jim and Fred." he spoke with clear emotion. The firefighter community mustered together, by my count, 36 apparatus. With each apparatus filled with firefighters, family, and friends, they rolled out onto Route 303 to anchor a parade; a parade started by Jim Waugaman, it only seemed fitting that his brothers end his parade, sirens blaring, horns honking, and crowds waving.

Fire service is often called a brotherhood, and this past Sunday they proved it with a salute only fitting for a fireman. A big truck and loud sirens.

You can see more great fire apparatus from that day here.