On October 15, 1977 at 1800 hours the Osage Beach Volunteer Fire Association responded to a report of a structure fire on Highway KK and LR 189. The structure was reported as unoccupied with the area of origin being a bathroom, the form of ignition a match and material ignited hay. The fire report went on the call the ignition factor of the fire “incendiary.” By definition incendiary is “causing or designed to cause a fire”, thus intentional. This report was written by Ed Anderson and the officer in charge approving the report was Pat Bagby, the Assistant Fire Chief.
Some 6 years earlier President Richard Nixon assemble a panel to look into the alarming fire problem in the United States. This commission went on to publish America Burning in 1973, a topic we covered last year. One of the recommendations of this panel was the establishment of a National Fire Academy to provide training to the countries firefighters. In 1974 President Gerald Ford signed Public Law 93-498 creating the United States Fire Administration and the creation of the Academy. In 1979 the USFA purchased the former Saint Joseph’s Academy, a Catholic School for girls from 1809-1973, for the purpose and use of the academy. The academy is located in Emmitsburg Maryland not far from several well-known sites, Gettysburg and Camp David.
In 1981 a memorial was constructed on the grounds of the National Fire Academy listing names of firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. In 1990 Congress officially designated this site as the National Firefighters Memorial to career and volunteer fallen firefighters. When a firefighter dies in the line of duty, notification is made to the United States Fire Administration and this is then immediately posted on the Memorial grounds. The flags over the Memorial are flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen firefighter.
I know you must be wondering why I went from discussing a fire call in 1977 to the History of the Academy and Memorial halfway across the country. That call off State Route KK on October 15, 1977 was the call that Osage Beach Volunteer Fire Association lost their Chief Tony Schroeder in the line of duty. According to the reports from medical staff Chief Schroeder suffered from smoke inhalation and died from an Acute Myocardial Infarction while fighting this fire.
The Memorial constructed in 1981 only list those firefighters lost from that year forward, until now. On June 11 of 2016 a new section of the memorial will be dedicated, this section will honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice prior to 1981. 39 years after his death, Osage Beach Volunteer Fire Chief Charles “Tony” Schroeder will have his brick placed in Emmitsburg Maryland at the National Firefighters Memorial.
To all those who will be honored that day, and in particular to Chief Schroeder, we thank you for your service and your sacrifice and to their families please know.
We Will Never Forget.
FFAM
