At the 2024 retirees banquet, there was an empty table set up by our Honour Guard. The unfortunate reality in our line of work is, not everyone makes it to retirement.
From the Edmonton Firefighters Honour Guard:
The
table is round - to show our everlasting concern for our fallen comrades;
The tablecloth is white - symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty;
The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of our fallen, and the loved ones and friends of these comrades who keep the faith;
The vase is tied with a red ribbon, a symbol of our continued determination to remember our fallen;
A slice of lemon on the bread plate, is to remind us of the bitter fate of those who will never return;
A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by the families of those who have sacrificed it all;
The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us at this time, and
The chair is empty because they are no longer with us.
Photos by Paige K Photography