The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Area’s fallen firefighters to be honored by sculpture

Artist Jon Barlow Hudson, working in his Yellow Springs studio, won the commission to create the Miami Valley Firefighters Memorial in Stubbs Park in Centerville. This is a 22-year dream of two Dayton-area firefighters who wanted to commemorate the friends they have lost in the line of duty. They have finally raised most of the money to commission the work.

Staff photo by Jim Witmer Artist Jon Barlow Hudson, working in his Yellow Springs studio, won the commission to create the Miami Valley Firefighters Memorial in Stubbs Park in Centerville. This is a 22-year dream of two Dayton-area firefighters who wanted to commemorate the friends they have lost in the line of duty. They have finally raised most of the money to commission the work.

ENLARGE PHOTO

‘Fire Wall’ a deserving memorial to Miami Valley firefighters

Coaster lovers take marathon ride for good cause
New 25 min. ago
Vastly different portraits emerge of Baby Vanessa's father
4:06 p.m.
Butler County Fair Results, Thursday, July 29
3:20 p.m.
Suspect sought in ‘vicious’ fatal assault
3:00 p.m.
Jewelry store thieves hit store in about 2 minutes
2:58 p.m.
> More headlines

A sculpture memorializing Miami Valley firefighters who have died in the line of duty will be placed in Stubbs Park in Centerville. Yellow Springs artist Jon Barlow Hudson has been selected to create the sculpture, which will look similar to the model seen here.

Submitted photo A sculpture memorializing Miami Valley firefighters who have died in the line of duty will be placed in Stubbs Park in Centerville. Yellow Springs artist Jon Barlow Hudson has been selected to create the sculpture, which will look similar to the model seen here.

58 firefighters in Miami Valley have died in line of duty

E-mail this page

By Mary McCarty, Staff Writer Updated 9:39 PM Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Rod Longpre has held two jobs in his life: soldier and firefighter.

He never saw combat during his years in the Army patrolling the East German border. It wasn’t until he returned to Dayton as a firefighter that he witnessed comrades being carried away on a stretcher.

The Belmont man will never forget the day in 1988 when the call came in: an explosion on Sims Street in Dayton with multiple injuries.

“In the confusion we didn’t realize that it was our own who had been injured,” Longpre recalled.

His friend and mentor, Lt. Patrick Yahle, was among the half-dozen firefighters injured in the industrial explosion. “Seeing those guys being carried from the field of battle had a profound effect on me,” Longpre said.

At first it seemed that Yahle would recover, but during his hospitalization, he threw a blood clot and died.

Longpre still gets choked up talking about his friend: “He was the best of us.”

Over time it became his mission to make sure that Yahle’s sacrifice would never be forgotten. He and his union colleagues with Dayton Firefighters Local 136 dreamed of a memorial that would honor the 58 Miami Valley firefighters who have died in the line of duty since 1847. “We kept asking ourselves, ‘Why are there almost no memorials for firefighters?’ ”

Box 21 Rescue Squad Lt. Darrell Perkins joined him in his quest, organizing an annual memorial concert at Stubbs Park in Centerville and raising funds for the commission of a sculpture. A thousand fish fries later, volunteers have raised nearly $70,000 toward the $100,000 goal.

Yellow Springs artist Jon Barlow Hudson has started work on a sculpture to be installed at Stubbs Park that he calls “Fire Wall.”

Said Longpre, “A more conscientious firefighter than Pat Yahle never walked this earth. For me this sculpture means we’re never going to let anyone forget Pat or any of these men and women who gave their lives for us.”

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

I am so proud of the efforts made by Rod! See, I have known him most of my life. Growing up around the firhouse I was always so proud of my dad Steve, and uncle Pat Yahle. Rod has worked tirlessly for over 20 years towards a goal many would have walked away from. As for anyone who would have any nerve to submit a negative comment about such a heroic group of men and women being honored, I pitty them. Each of these 58 men and women have a family attached to them who grieved over their loss.

Jennifer
12:09 PM, 1/1/2010

REPORT ABUSE

Great article--glad to hear you are so close to the goal. I know how much it means to all who dedicated their time and energy to this noble cause. The hostile comments bothered me enough to respond. Although they seemed provoked by Ajax, still people think--it's Christmas. Remember the meaning. Responding to his remarks with more contempt fuels his fire. This article was about a labor of love don't take away from it.

Karen
12:01 PM, 12/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Ajax,

I am touched by your deep concern for my and others welfare and your desire to help your fellow citizens.

Paul
1:14 PM, 12/24/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Ajax... let me guess, let me guess. You have no job, and you live off the Gov't... hit that one right on the nose didn't I? Your comment about "these boys get paid", some do, some don't. Most are strictly volunteer. So I want you to go to the families that lost someone in the line of duty and tell them exactly what you wrote on here. Imagine getting paid nothing, but putting your life on the line for your community. It is safe to say that you would NEVER do that.

really?
12:32 PM, 12/24/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Ajax,

Did you read the article? The memorial is being paid for with private funds, not public funds. If I want to contribute to a private effort, what business is it of yours to comment on how my money is being spent? I think remembering military, police, fire and others who spend their lives protecting us is the right thing to do.

Paul
12:30 PM, 12/24/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 8 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.