The Knoxville Fire Department held its annual Memorial Service Honoring Fallen Firefighters Thursday at the KFD's Headquarters Fire Station in downtown Knoxville.

The annual ceremony honored the 18 KFD firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty since 1875 and the one active firefighter and six retired firefighters who have passed away during the past year.

As part of the ceremony, attended by 150-180 active and retired firefighters and family and friends of those being honored, a bell tolled 25 times - once for each of the firefighters.

At the same time - as each firefighter's name was read by Fire Chief Robert L. Key and the bell tolled - a single red rose was placed into a gold-colored vase bearing the department's insignia.

Mayor Bill Haslam and Chief Key spoke at the ceremony before placing a wreath at the firefighter's statue in Firefighter Memorial Park in front of the station.

Haslam said that this was a special day when the city remembers firefighters who rush into dangerous or tragic situations to provide protection, aid and comfort.

He also told family members of those being honored that the relatives of KFD firefighters are part of an extended fire department family and that relationship never ends.

Retired firefighters who passed away since last year and who were honored Thursday included:

Harry L. Bell
Bryan K. Cox
Paul W. Dunn
Doyle K. Ford
Charles Sutton
Robert E. Tate
Charles E. Winstead