Past Events

In excess of 800 Firefighters, EMS and motorcyclist from all over Ohio registered this morning to ride in the Fifth Annual Firefighters Memorial Ride (FFMR). That was in addition to the 850 pre-registered riders. In total over 1200 bikes and 1700 supporters of the Firefighters Memorial Ride staged their bikes by the Browns Stadium today beginning at 9:00 AM for the 10:30 AM Ceremony at the Firefighters Memorial across from the Browns Stadium. It was the largest attendance ever for the Firefighters Memorial Ride.

Jim Mantel of WGAR opening the Ceremony and Monica Robins sang the National Anthem. John “KIKS” Kikol President to the FFMR introduced the following five winners of $2000 scholarships and the University/College they will be attending:

  1. Allison Zwegat of Willoughby, Miami University of Ohio
  2. Heather Helsel of Concord, Ohio Northern University
  3. Rachelle H. Haynik, University of Pittsburgh
  4. Sara Thomas, Ohio State University
  5. Sean Stefancin, enrolled at Notre Dame

In Kikol’s speech he spoke about the 114 Firefighters and EMS workers lost in the line of Duty during 2008. To date we have lost 41 Firefighters nationally. During the Ceremony Jim Mantel and Monica Robins read the names of the four Ohio Firefighters that were lost in the line of duty during the past year:

  • Gary L. Studer -Whitehouse Fire Department, Whitehouse Ohio
  • Richard L. Kear- Pitt Township Volunteer Fire Dept., Harpster Oh
  • Greg Northup- Gallipolis Fire Department, Gallipolis Ohio
  • Michael J. Darrington- Toledo Fire and Rescue, Toledo Ohio

After a moment of silence, Lt. William Staab, who gave the invocation, played taps and the Cleveland Firefighters Pipes and Drums played Amazing Grace. The ceremony concluded and the forty five mile ride began to weave itself from Cleveland through East Cleveland, South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Willoughby Hills, Willoughby, Eastlake, Mentor on the Lake and finally arriving after a one hour and 45 minute processional ride at Western Reserve Harley Davidson. Western Reserve Harley Davidson provided food, beverages and entertainment as the event main sponsor.

With thirty uniformed Police Officers from Cleveland PD and many of suburban PD, together with excellent police support from each of the communities, the estimated 1200 bikes arrived safely and rode in the memory of all our nations Fallen Firefighters. Kikol said that FFMR donated $14,000 at today event with $10,000 in scholarships and they will be donating one thousand dollars to the families of each of the four Ohio Fallen Firefighters.