California Honors Their Fallen

The 16th Annual California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, held Saturday, September 29, 2018, recognized 37 California firefighters. Of those, the name of our own Captain II David T. Moorman was placed on the wall. These names were added to the nearly 1,400 others inscribed on the brushed limestone wall of the California Firefighters Memorial. The wall, located in Sacramento’s Capitol Park, recognizes California firefighters who have died in the line of duty since we became a state in 1850.

David T. Moorman proudly served the Los Angeles City Fire Department for 28 years, where he climbed through the ranks to Captain II. He was a member of CATF1 Urban Search & Rescue Team and was deployed to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. He was also deployed to NYC after the 9/11 attacks. Throughout his career he received multiple letters of commendation and most notably the LAFD Medal of Honor.

The Moorman Family—Amy Moorman, Dave’s wife; Elizabeth & Richard their children; and Carol Moorman, Dave’s mom, traveled to Sacramento escorted by the LAFD contingent. These included the LAFRA Family Support Group; Relief Trustees Gene Bednarchik & Joe Vigil; Chief Terrazas; UFLAC’s Tony Gamboa, Domingo (Alby) Albarran Jr., Freddie Escobar, and Adam VanGerpen; the LAFD Honor Guard, LAFD Fire Hogs, and MANY LAFD firefighters and family!

The California Fire Foundation hosts a Widow Luncheon on Friday to bring all the widows together and to spend some quiet time with each other. Friday evening the LAFD Family came together for dinner at the Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar. There were lots of laughs shared that evening. After dinner, we all walked over to the Memorial Wall. It was there that many more laughs took place, along with tears! It was very nice for all of us to show our support to the Moorman family and friends that evening!

On Saturday, the 29th, we started out with a breakfast hosted by the CA Fire Foundation. After breakfast, all the LAFD Family met in the hotel lobby and walked with the Moorman family to the Memorial.

The ceremony features a moving uniformed firefighter procession and personal tributes. Our very own FF/PM Dennis Rodriguez sang the National Anthem. There was a presentation of a U.S. flag to the families of those whose names are newly added to the Memorial. John Garneca presented Amy Moorman with the flag. Our Honor Guard did a beautiful job at the Memorial too.

The ceremony has become a touchstone for the profession, and a chance for firefighters, families, and ordinary citizens to grieve and remember together. The CA Fallen Firefighter Memorial is a ceremony that every firefighter should attend to support our LA Fire Family!

By Diane Vigil, LAFRA Family Support Group