firefighter cremation urn

We’ve got a soft spot here for the men and women who dedicate their lives to fire service and rescue. As discussed here before, my father was a firefighter, a captain at one of the busiest fire houses in the country. Growing up around firemen, one thing we’ve noticed over the years is the cancer risk as well as respiratory issues seem to be noticeably higher among this group. When my dad started so many years ago, the department didn’t even provide air masks or respirators. Most of these men are long retired or dead, but besides the brotherhood, they all had one thing in common, the fire house cough.

Recently, retired firefighter Tom “Bull” Hill is on a 640 mile journey from Key West to Tallahassee, Florida walking to raise awareness regarding benefits that families of firefighters DON’T receive when the spouse dies of cancer when exposed to hazards on the job. With over 30 years of service with Orange County Fire Rescue, his walk started in memory of two fallen friends who were disgusted over the lack of benefits for their survivors.

Hill traveled over a 100 miles when firemen from Miami caught up with him and offered to carry his pack to ease the burden and offered a place to rest, eat, and sleep overnight at the station. Word traveled, and all along the route supporters have turned out to walk a few miles with Hill and carry his “burden”. He’s collected patches from the various departments and Hill started a ledger of names to remember those who died in the line of duty, medical issues, and suicide.

Earlier this week, as Hill made his way north, Danny, our friend and colleague in central Florida joined Bull Hill on the march. Danny is a couple of years away from retirement so he understands the impact this health situation can have on the families of his brothers and sisters in fire service. He is also the talented designer behind a touching memorial for firefighters, a bronze cremation urn that is a sculpted fire helmet that can be personalized with name, department, and rank.

A beautiful tribute that is made by American craftsman for true American heros. Danny, we thank you for your service and for supporting awareness on the March of the Bull. You can support the men and women of the Florida fire departments by signing the petition here.

Recently, we connected with a widow who had met her Fire Chief husband when she worked as a 911 dispatcher. They were well respected in their town and when he died suddenly, his widow, friends, and colleagues came together to collaborate on his memorial. He was cremated and his wife wanted something special that would honor his legacy of civil service. She choose the bronze fireman’s helmet urn and had his name and rank inscribed in the metal. This type of cremation urn takes several weeks to produce, but the family agreed. It was worth the wait. Even better, it’s made in the USA by craftsmen who take pride in the memorials they create.

Firefighters and nurses hold a special place in our hearts here at Urn Garden. Probably because growing up, we were surrounded by fireman, nurses, and emergency personnel, as members of our family and many friends had chosen this honorable profession. Life funeral service, these career choices are definitely a calling and we wanted to create a special cremation urn to pay tribute to the men and women who risk their life for fire service and those that choose jobs in the medical and healing arts sector.

After this couple’s children were grown they decided to leave California and relocate to an island community further north in an area where they had vacationed for years and integrated themselves into the community. This couple had a natural desire to help out where ever they were and since they were several years away from retirement, they took jobs that would benefit from their skills. He found work as an officer in fire service, she got hired at the local hospital.

In a touching tribute before he died, an ambulance transported him from a hospital on the mainland back to the island. Fellow firefighters, EMS staff, paramedics, the sheriff, members of the police department, and even airport personnel turned out to greet his arrival home with 10 emergency vehicles, lights flashing. He was so surprised by the turnout and was deeply moved by the display of respect and love by his community.

Inspired by this story, we wanted to create a memorial that would honor the memory of those who serve as angels of mercy in the medical field. We’ve taken the Elegant White cremation urn and our professional engravers laser art work and personalize with name and dates. Whether your loved one was a doctor, nurse, EMT, paramedic or natural healer we want to say Thank You.

Need help creating the perfect memorial for your loved one? We can help.

Firefighter Burden Walk, March of the Bull

Urns for Firefighters, Nurses, EMT’s