Philadelphia (Wednesday, May 3) – In a day of reflection and reverence, Mayor Jim Kenney and Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis joined other officials to honor police officers and firefighters at the City of Philadelphia’s annual Living Flame Memorial Service at Franklin Square Park, Seventh and Race streets, today.
The Living Flame Memorial Service is designed to acknowledge the sacrifices of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty. Since records have been kept in the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1871, 291 members of the Philadelphia Fire Department have made the ultimate sacrifice in the official line of duty. Since 1828, there have been 272 recorded deaths of Philadelphia police officers who died in service.
Mayor Kenney, Police Commissioner Richard Ross and Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel reflectively addressed a crowd including family members and colleagues of fallen Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who have died over the years while in service to the City. The City officials placed wreaths followed by families of deceased police and fire heroes laid down red-and-white carnations at the Living Flame Memorial in Franklin Square Park. The names of fallen police officers and firefighters, who succumbed while serving the public, are inscribed on plaques on the circular three-pronged Living Flame Memorial monument in the park.
Since the last Living Flame Memorial in May 2016, two members of the Philadelphia Police Department – Douglas Bamberger and Raymond Diaz, Jr. – and one firefighter Gabriel G. Lee have died in the line of duty. They were recognized in respectful tributes and added to the monument. Their names joined the revered roster of local deceased firefighters and police officers who are memorialized on the Living Flame Memorial in Franklin Square Park in Old City.
“On this solemn occasion of reflection and remembrance, we honor our fallen officers and firefighters who selflessly gave their lives while serving and protecting the citizens of Philadelphia,” said Mayor Kenney. “As the son of a former city firefighter, I can tell you that I will never forget their sacrifices. We offer our deepest sympathy to the families who have lost their loved ones — a wife, husband, son, daughter, father or mother — in the line of duty. The City of Philadelphia is forever in their debt.”
Firefighter Lee as well as police officers Douglas Bamberger and Raymond Diaz died of job-related complications or injuries in 2016:
Firefighter Lee, 42, of Germantown, died last July after responding to several calls during the late shift. A graduate of Northeast High School and U.S. Army Operation Desert Storm veteran, he served nearly two decades in the Philadelphia Fire Department, including his final assignment at Platoon “C” at Ladder Company 12 in North Philadelphia. He was a well-respected member of Firefighters Local 22, where he was honored with its “Distinguished Service Award.” Firefighter Lee was known in his community as an upstanding, religious and generous man. He also was an accomplished amateur boxer. He is survived by his wife, Taisha, and children Eric, Gabrielle and Chase.
Police Officer Bamberger, 42, of the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia, died of a heart attack in October while on duty at the Criminal Justice Center as a member of the department’s Court Liaison Unit. He spent 16 years on the force. Officer Bamberger entered the Philadelphia Police Department Academy in 2000 and was assigned to the 25th District in North Philadelphia. His later was assigned to First District in South Philadelphia, and then 12 years later to the Court Liaison Unit in 2014. He received two commendations. A graduate of the North Catholic High School, Officer Bamberger is survived by his wife, Dawn, and two Daughters, Madison and Abigail.
Police Officer Diaz, 47, a resident of Holmesburg in Northeast Philadelphia, served his entire 20-year career in the 24th Police District in North Philly. He died in September after complications from a prior on-duty-related vehicular accident. A graduate of the Brockton High School in Brockton, Mass, Officer Diaz is survived by his wife, Megan, his daughter, Marissa, and two sons, Raymond, Jr. and Alexander. Officer Diaz also is survived by Nicole, Jasmin and Joshua Diaz, children from a previous marriage.
City officials — led by Mayor Kenney, Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis (the program’s emcee), Police Commissioner Ross and Fire Commissioner Thiel — were joined by representatives from the families and colleagues of Officers Bamberger and Diaz and Firefighter Lee — as well as survivors of other police and firefighters. Most of the families placed flowers at the monument during this annual day of remembrance.
The Living Flame Memorial program featured musical selections including soloist Police Officer Alvina McClain, of the 14th District in Germantown, who opened the service with a stirring a cappella rendition of the National Anthem. Officer McClain, of Northeast Philadelphia, has performed the Star Spangled Banner for the Police Survivor’s Run the at the Police and Fire Boxing event in March. The Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums as well as the Police Department Honor Guard also performed poignant musical tributes during the wreath-laying portion of the program.
Fire Department bugler John Stanley and Police Department Honorary trumpeter Brandon Combs performed Echo Taps in the finale featuring the “Rendering of Honors.” Combs, 15, of Samuel S. Fels High School in Northeast Philadelphia, lost his trumpet to theft recently, and the Philadelphia Police Department Honor Guard adopted him as an honorary bugler, buying him a new horn. Combs was discovered by the police department at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last year, as he played on the street corner on South Broad Street and in Center City, trying to calm protestors with his music. It worked, and he caught the eye of authorities in the department. Combs, an aspiring police officer, has performed the National Anthem at a Philadelphia Eagles’ game.
Other participants from the law-enforcement community included representatives from John McNesby, President of the Fraternal Order of Police/Philadelphia Lodge (F.O.P.) #5; F.O.P. / Lodge #5 Auxiliary; F.O.P./ Lodge 113-University of PA Police; Andy Thomas, President of the Philadelphia Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 22; Philadelphia Firefighters Union, IAFF, Local #22 Family Association; Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums; Police and Fire Color Guards; Philadelphia Police & Fire Honor Guard, Police and Fire Department Buglers; Retired Police, Fire, and Prison Guard Association; International German-American Police Association; International Association of Black Professional Firefighters – Valiants Inc.; National Organizations of Black Women in Law Enforcement; National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives; League of Sacred Heart of Jesus; Legion of Cornelius; Shomrim Society; Ancient Order of Hibernians; Polish Police Association; League The Spanish American Law Enforcement
Association; Spanish American Firefighters Association; The Guardian Civic League Incorporated; Custodes Pacis, Lodge #2085, Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and American Legion Police Post 937.
Also participating in the service were clergy throughout the region. The Rev. Edward E. Brady, of St. Anne Roman Catholic Church, delivered the program’s Invocation and Cantor Alan Edwards, of Shomrim Society/Philadelphia and Delaware Valley Region, delivered a “Prayer for Heroes and Families of Heroes.” Bishop Samuel Jones, of the Police Chaplain’s Office and New Destiny Worship Center, gave the Benediction.
Representatives from federal, state as well as other law-enforcement and fire-service agencies also paused and paid their respects.
Three trained white doves were released from in front of the stage at the ceremony’s conclusion to symbolically honor the gallant fallen Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice including the most recent – Officers Bamberger and Diaz and Firefighter Lee. The Living Flame Memorial Service today precedes National Police Week a national observance held later this month to memorialize those in law enforcement who gave their lives honorably to protect and serve the public. The national week was established in 1962.