FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Six new names have been added to the state's Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Frankfort.
The wall is located in Juniper Hill Park, and is a wall of heroes dedicated to those who gave all for their communities.
Every year, firefighters across Kentucky gather in the shadow of the memorial.
The list of those brave heroes that gave their lives continues to grow.
"Fire service is a hard thing to explain. People call us heroes, and say things like that. I don't think of ourselves as heroes. We're just people that like to help people. That's all we are," said West Knox Fire Chief Darryl Baker.
There were six new names unveiled on Wednesday:
- Jeff Crossfield, Paris Fire Dept.
- Richard Gossman, McMahan Fire Dept.
- Ronald Helton, Firebrick Fire Dept.
- Ray Hollingsworth, West Knox Fire Dept.
- Thomas McBride, Campbellsburg Fire and Rescue
- James Settles, Stanley Fire Dept.
"Have somebody like Ray (Hollingsworth) come on later in life and decide he wants to do it, just means everything," said Baker.
Baker says Hollingsworth volunteered with the department for 13 years, and worked through his cancer diagnosis up until a week before he died.
"Two percent of what we do is what I'd like to call the highlight reel. Running in and saving somebody, or putting out a fire. The other 98% is all work behind-the-scenes, and that's what people like Ray were," said Baker.
Crossfield was a 21-year veteran with the Paris FD.
"It's more like a brotherhood. Me and Jeff spent countless hours with each other on that ambulance," said Battalion Chief Josh Hutchison.
Hutchison says not long after retiring, Crossfield died of cancer.
"He was always the one who would offer assistance, guidance, not only at the fire department, but just life in general," said Hutchison.
The hope every year is that no new names will be added to this list, but firefighters will continue gathering in Frankfort to remember those they've lost.
