Given the strong bond and brotherhood that exists within the fire service, it should come as no surprise that one of the most important roles of the Strathcona Firefighters’ Honour Guard is that of honouring emergency services personnel who die in the line of duty.

With this important role in mind, the Honour Guard hosted its second comedy fundraiser in the fall of 2000 in an effort to raise funds for the construction of the Memorial in proximity to Strathcona County Emergency Service’s Station No. 1. Immediately following that first year’s event, the Honour Guard entered into preparations for the 2001 function with the same goal in mind: to raise funds for the construction of a fallen firefighters memorial. Farthest from anyone’s imagination were the events of September 11, 2001—when emergency services would be dealt the greatest blow in recorded history with the loss of more than 350 of our brothers and sisters—who died while responding to the World Trade Centre Incident.

After countless hours of discussion, the Honour Guard decided to proceed with the Comedy Fundraiser scheduled for October 2001, less than five weeks after the World Trade Centre Terrorist Attack. That year’s event would be held to raise funds for the I.A.F.F.’s 9-11 Memorial Fund to assist the families of emergency service personnel killed in the attack.

While planning the Fundraiser, the Strathcona Firefighters’ Honour Guard was contacted by local sign maker Rick Long of Eagle Signs. Mr. Long was searching for a project to undertake in support of our brothers and sisters who perished on September 11th. Over the next few weeks, Mr. Long designed and constructed a 2 foot by 8 foot cedar sign commemorating the September 11, 2001 tragedy.

The sign created by Rick Long was displayed for the first time on stage at the Comedy Nights. Following the second night’s performance, members of the Strathcona County Fire Fighter’s Union – I.A.F.F. Local 2461 wrote their condolences, thoughts and prayers on the rear of the sign. That sign presently hangs in the offices of the Uniformed Firefighter’s Association of Greater New York-I.A.F.F. Local 94.