Fallen firefighters honored on Missouri's first Fire Service Memorial Day – KOMU 8

Planck Vision Systems manufactures thermal imaging solutions for portable inspection and 24/7 monitoring of commercial applications including: Early Fire Detection, Manufacturing, Substations & Tunnels, Electrical Panel/Cabinets, Storage Facilities, Data Centers and Elevated Body Temperature Screening. Our company is headquartered in Santa Barbara CA, the capital of infrared sensing technologies in the United States. Founded in 2020, our design team has worked together for more than 15 years on thermal/visible camera systems and on products that are currently distributed worldwide.We specialized in working with our customers to meet the unique thermal imaging needs of their clients. Our proven systems have been installed globally in commercial applications for energy production and distribution, food production, transportation, industrial automation, and elevated body temperature (EBT) detection.
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On Sept. 15, Gov. Mike Kehoe proclaimed Oct. 5 as Fire Service Memorial Day in Missouri.
However, honoring people who have served in the fire service isn’t new to Missouri. The Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri has been holding annual services for years.  
“These are hallowed grounds in which we remember those who have not only served but also given the ultimate sacrifice,” Keith Smith, chairman of the Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri, said. 
Being the chairman, Smith said, is an honor.  
“My father was the one that formed the committee that got the memorial built,” Smith said. “The vision was eventually having a museum. He served as chairman, and now it’s my privilege to carry that on.” 
Smith also said that he believes in the saying “you die twice” — the first being when the physical body shuts down. 
“The second time is when they stop saying your name and telling your stories.” Smith said. “These hallowed grounds is where we continue to remember their name and tell those stories.” 
10 out of the 400 fire service members who died since the 19th century were officially recognized.  
The 10 being honored are:
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Graham J. Hoffman from the Kansas City Fire Department passed away on April 27 of this year. His brother was there to receive his helmet.  
“What can even be said bad about Graham? I mean his friends loved him, his family loved him, I mean he was the best,” Nolan Hoffman, Graham’s brother, said. “Everybody uses that niche term, light up a room when you walk-in, he really did. He was great, I mean he was the best.”  
Hoffman said he takes it day by day and with each day things get easier. 
“These big memorials where everybody comes together, we can see former firefighters, other people who have lost someone in the line of duty, it’s a great thing,” Hoffman said. “Just give everybody a little bit of happiness you know, it doesn’t have to be sad all the time.”  
When the proclamation came from Gov. Kehoe, Hoffman said he was in shock and even was able to tell him personally how amazing the proclamation was.  
“October 5 will definitely be a special day for us now,” Hoffman said.  
“When the governor realizes the importance of what we’re doing and putting pen to paper, and then word goes out. It says we got support at the top,” Smith said. “And being the top official in the state of Missouri, that means a lot, to not only the line of duty families, but also folks that realize their loved one having to provide service is still recognized and remembering their name.”  
Smith shared this was largest turn out that they’ve had, with approximately 600 people in attendance.  
Throughout the service the message of hope was shared. Smith said for him it comes down to having a vision.  
“There is a tomorrow, tomorrow can be better than yesterday and that we can always do a little bit better than we did the day before,” Smith said.
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Planck Vision Systems manufactures thermal imaging solutions for portable inspection and 24/7 monitoring of commercial applications including