JFRD Honors 28 Fallen Firefighters, Adds Two Names to Memorial

Engineer Ian Church and Engineer Jason Woodruff were memorialized alongside 26 other JFRD firefighters whose names are etched on the wall. Both Church and Woodruff lost their lives to occupational cancer.

The ceremony brought together JFRD personnel, families of the fallen, officials, and community members in a solemn tribute to those who gave their lives protecting Jacksonville. “When I look at this wall, I don’t see twenty-eight names. I see twenty-eight lives. Twenty-eight families. Twenty-eight chairs that went empty at dinner tables across Jacksonville”, said Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “To the families here today, I want you to know something. We haven’t forgotten. We will never forget.”

Master of Ceremonies, retired JFRD Captain Nick Tison, provided context to the memorial, noting it was dedicated 38 years ago on June 29, 1987, when 14 names were engraved on the wall. Today, the memorial bears double that.  

The heart of the ceremony was the Last Alarm roll call, led by JFRD Honor Guard Commander Engineer Justin Adler. Each of the 28 names was read aloud as the memorial bell rang in tribute.

In deeply personal moments, Brittany Church and Jen Woodruff rang the bell after their husbands’ names on the wall. Each widow was then presented with a portrait of her husband by the JFRD Honor Guard.

Josh Davis shared memories of Ian, while Lieutenant Scott Abel spoke about Jason, offering personal reflections on their service and character.

Station 60 Captain Derek Nowell and Station 19 Captain Jonathan McMullen were presented with memorial plaques honoring Church and Woodruff, respectively. The plaques will be displayed in perpetuity at their home stations to ensure their memories are never forgotten.

Chief Golden addressed the growing concern of occupational cancer in the fire service during his remarks.

“Ian and Jason gave years of dedicated service to JFRD and this community. They answered countless calls. They touched countless lives. And like too many firefighters, they developed cancer as a result of the work they did.” Golden said. “The reality is that the dangers of this profession don’t always show themselves in a single moment. Sometimes they build quietly over years of service.”

The Chief spoke directly to the families of Church and Woodruff, thanking them for their support and promising continued efforts to protect the health and safety of firefighters.  

“Thank you for sharing them with us. Thank you for supporting them through their service.
Please know that we will honor their memory by continuing to fight for the health and safety of every firefighter who follows in their footsteps.” Golden told families.

Chief Golden, in his first year leading JFRD, emphasized the importance of the memorial to both the department and the community.

“Every person on this wall answered the call. They ran toward danger when others ran away. They put strangers before themselves. They wore the JFRD uniform knowing the risks, and they did it anyway”, he said. “When we walk away from this memorial today, we don’t leave them behind. We carry them with us. On every run, on every call. Every time we are faced with choosing service over our own safety.”

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the American flag by the JFRD Honor Guard, a 21-gun salute by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Firing Team, the playing of Taps, and Amazing Grace performed by the JFRD Pipes and Drums. Chaplain Dr. Percy Golden, Sr., offered the closing benediction.  

The JFRD Fallen Firefighter Memorial serves as a permanent tribute to Jacksonville firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The 28 names represent generations of service and sacrifice spanning the department’s history.