FMFD stands in at Memorial Day service

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison Fire Department went beyond emergency service on Memorial Day and stood up for veterans at Soldiers Circle in Oakland Cemetery.
Fort Madison Fire Chief Chad Hannum said he read in local papers that the Honor Guard that usually presents at the Fort Madison Memorial Day Service Monday morning wasn't going to be able to provide services for the holiday.
Hannum, whose father was a veteran and has multiple veterans serving on the Fort Madison Fire Department, told Honor Guard member Dan Vice that he would step in.
“Last year, I came to pay my respects and watch the ceremony. On Wednesday, I saw that they weren’t going to be able to do it this year,” Hannum said.
“When this happened, I thought, 'We cannot let an important day like this go by without something being done. So the next morning at staff meeting  I brought it up to City Manager (Laura) Liegois, and she said absolutely we need to put something together.”
He said things came together very quickly from that point.
“Just like that we had Police Chief (Cody) Potthast and our guys and his guys, the Iowa State Patrol was here, and I got a hold of Doc (Chuck) Holmes and he played taps. And then Dan Vice told me Command Sergeant Ned Fry wanted to come speak. So that was great and gave us someone from the military speaking.”
An effort is underway now to recruit military veterans to fill out the Honor Guard.

Firefighter Chris Eastin is retired Navy and said unless some younger veterans stand in, there may be a void in having an honor guard at Memorial Day services going forward.
“Dan made it sound like  unless they can get some younger guys in, they may not have it. These guys that were doing it are all in their 70s and 80s and can’t do it,” Eastin said.
Hannum said the event may have been a little ragtag considering the late notice.
“But something is better than nothing,” he said.
The Firefighters Auxiliary purchased 21 new flags for this year's event and Hannum said they are still doing more fundraising to buy more flags. The department also spends several hours each week before Memorial Day to install the flags around Soldiers' Circle.
Hannum said there used to be a pattern at Soldiers' Circle of flag pathways and it would be a great Eagle Scout or joint Eagle Scout project to have those flag stands recovered and cleaned up.
“That is very needed and would be a great project. If you look at Soldiers' Circle from a drone you can kind of see that path, but it needs to be cleaned up,” Hannum said.
The city also celebrated a Memorial Day service at the War of 1812 Battlefield Park on the city's east side. North Lee County Historical Society President Andy Andrews has been orchestrating that service since the park became a reality about five years ago.