The Mississippi State Fair Academy, in partnership with the Mississippi Firefighters Association and the Mississippi Fire Chiefs Association, paid tribute to firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty during a special memorial service on Tuesday morning.
The Fallen Firefighter Memorial was held Tuesday morning on the academy’s campus in Pearl.
Located on 112 acres, the MSFA grounds feature a solemn memorial etched with the names of 125 firefighters who have died in service since 1885. During the ceremony, the name of Terry Wayne Dykes of the Pinedale Volunteer Fire Department was added to the wall.
“In their memory, we gather, reminding us, he made the difference for others when it mattered the most,” Mississippi State Fire Academy executive director Kelly Elliott said.
Each year, firefighters, family members, and community supporters come together for this ceremony to reflect on the risks first responders take and the lives they protect.
The event coincides with National Fire Prevention Week, observed Oct. 5-11. The National Fire Protection Association has chosen the theme “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home” to raise awareness about personal battery use, charging, and disposal.
