Remembering a fallen firefighter

The State of Minnesota recognizes the sacrifice of firefighters who have perished with the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the State Capitol. September 24 is Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day. Cook County Emergency Management Director Valerie Marasco was there and she explains her special connection to this memorial in this interview wth WTIP's Rhonda Silence.

See the text of Valerie's remarks at the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day event below. 

2017 Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial

Remarks by Valerie Marasco,
Cook County Director of Emergency Management

All firefighter, law enforcement and emergency services families know all too well that our responders miss birthdays, holidays, and sporting events as part of the job. It comes with the territory and we understand – it is part of the selfless service to others and dedication to public safety.

For my family, my dad Michael Kurth was working New Year’s Eve 1981. Coming from a family deeply rooted in the Minneapolis Fire Department this wasn’t unusual. My grandfather Frank Kurth Sr, my dad’s older brother Frank Jr, my mom’s brother and my godfather Frank Baird and my cousin Derrek Baird were or are all Minneapolis firefighters – collectively many a holiday was spent at the various MFD Halls with the fire family rather than at home.  

What we didn’t expect that particular New Year’s was to get that fated phone call in the middle of the night or the Chief’s car rushing to collect my mother, my seven-year-old brother Matthew and me, then just three and a half, to get us to HCMC. I can still remember the sirens and the lights flickering off the buildings downtown not understanding the gravity of the situation.
At age 29, with 10 years in on the job, this couldn’t be happening. My dad went to work at the old station 10s and he wasn’t coming home. There would be no more birthdays, no Christmases, hockey games or fishing trips as a physically-present complete family. And there would be no more days with his fire family.

Each person here knows the depths of this incredible void – either as a spouse, a child, a parent, a family member or friend, or as a fellow firefighter.

Only this community – the heroes of our arms of public safety and active duty service members and the families that are sometimes left behind – can understand this kind of loss.

It is one that forever changes you and comes with so many intense emotions – grief, anger, unfairness, sorrow, the what ifs, the how do I do this now – but it also comes with pride, honor, integrity, protection and immense love.

That is evident as we come together here today – the connection, the respect and the love are palpable and we know that we are being watched over by some pretty amazing guardian angels – those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who carry on…on the trucks, commanding incidents, fire administration, negotiating benefits or planning these memorials to ensure the mission and legacy continues and the sacrifice is never forgotten.

It is an honor and a privilege for our family to be here and to be surrounded by so many firefighters from all over the state and beyond.

As a fire family, we know that it is not easy for you either. You continually provide selfless service to your communities, sacrifice so much time away from home doing things most would never consider without blinking an eye, supporting each other in dealing with the horrific things you’ve seen and experienced and yet never hesitating when that alarm sounds despite the very real risk.  Despite the reality of why we are here today – and despite your own grief for your fallen.

It is also an honor to be here amidst the strength of other survivors – the parents and children who have to keep going in the wake of tragedy. We are remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, but let's also take a second to honor these two groups who carry on today, tomorrow and everyday going forward - they truly are heroes and couldn't do what they do, if they were not.
To the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation and the Association of Fallen Firefighters, thank you for all your work to ensure a proper memorial and place of due respect exists locally, for tracking down every line of duty death and all the fallen firefighter families, and for bringing us together.

This Memorial creates a generational connection among family and gives them a picture of how special their firefighter was – especially for those who may not have ever gotten the chance to meet them. It keeps their legacy and memory alive, and offers a place of healing and connection.

No matter how much time passes, for the survivors it's still raw. Every milestone for those left behind is a reminder that their firefighter isn't there to witness it.

But this memorial shows those who carry on that their firefighter didn't die in vain, that they weren't abandoned. It teaches a critical piece of families’ individual histories -- and that we're all part of something bigger, and forever binds us.
Working in emergency operations and administration, I carry this with me and often draw on these sacrifices and knowing where I came from, as a source of strength, confidence and pride.

So on behalf of my family; I say to the other little ones and spouses that are left behind – you are loved, you are strong, you are not alone, and you are part of a very important family of heroes.

God bless you, and thank you.