Charleston will hold a remembrance ceremony 7 p.m. Sunday to remember the Charleston 9 — nine Charleston Fire Department firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty June 18, 2007, while combating the catastrophic Sofa Super Store fire in West Ashley.
The commemorative event, which will be held at Charleston 9 Memorial Park at 1807 Savannah Highway in West Ashley, will include an invocation, roll call of the fallen, benediction and time for reflection throughout the memorial site. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Four days after the 2007 tragedy, more than 30,000 people showed up to memorialize the fallen heroes, inaugurating an annual tradition of remembrance. The first remembrance procession included 300 first responder vehicles and stretched over seven miles along Interstate 526. The route passed the site of the devastating fire, as well as the fire stations of the men who were lost.
“These firefighters were true heroes who demonstrated great skill and courage,” then-President George W. Bush said in a statement on the day after the tragedy. “Their unwavering commitment to their neighbors and to the city of Charleston is an inspiration to all Americans.”
For those who would like to attend remotely, the event will also be live streamed on the Charleston Fire Department Facebook page.
The Charleston 9 included (in alphabetical order):
- Engineer Bradford “Brad” Baity of Engine 19
- Captain Mike Benke of Engine 16
- Firefighter Melvin Champaign of Engine 16
- Firefighter James “Earl” Drayton of Engine 19
- Assistant Engineer Michael French of Ladder 5
- Captain William Hutchinson of Engine 19
- Engineer Mark Kelsey of Ladder 5
- Captain Louis Mulkey of Engine 15
- Firefighter Brandon Thompson of Ladder 5
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