11 fallen firefighters honored with stones in Bastrop garden
Lessons for better safety were learned from each life represented, official says.
Eleven stones lay interspersed between yellow Esperanza flowers, bright red perennials and other greenery in a garden just inside a portion of Camp Swift in Bastrop County.
Each stone represents a life lost that made an impact on the Texas A&M Forest Service: wildland firefighters who died in the line of duty and instructors who passed on lessons for so many.
“Every death here, we’ve learned a lesson to make ourselves better and keep our people safe,” said Mary Leathers, a wildfire prevention program specialist with the forest service. “We want to honor them and make it so their lives weren’t lost in vain.”
Many people gathered around the garden Oct. 29 to honor the fallen, watching Leathers and task coordinator Rich Gray lay a single rose on each stone as Les Rogers, chief law enforcement officer for the forest service, shared stories of their memories.
“Say a prayer for them and what they’ve done for us,” Rogers said, as forest service personnel, Bastrop County officials and participants in the annual Capital Area Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy bowed their heads solemnly.
The event marked the 14th memorial service, held as a part of the forest service’s academy, an intensive wildfire training program for firefighters and emergency planners.
The garden itself wasn’t much at first — just a couple flag poles and a few clay pots filled with mums, Leathers recalled. But each year it grew.
Leathers said she hopes that one day soon, with the help of donations, they’ll be able to lay down rock amid the garden to give it permanency.
On the sunny Thursday morning, Leathers walked along pointing to the stones, telling stories of the people they represent.
One succumbed to heat stroke in the course of fighting a fire, another as a result of burns.
Others lost battles with illnesses, but left behind legacies in the field of firefighting.
Leathers stopped by a stone for Marty Martinez, an assistant chief for the forest service, who died last year as a result of heart problems. “He wasn’t but 5 feet tall, but he was a spitfire,” she said.
A Monarch butterfly fluttered above the garden and Leathers began to wipe away tears.
“When you see the butterflies, it’s him,” she said.
In front of the garden, a hardhat and goggles rested on the recognizable yellow forest service shirt. Nearby stood sturdy boots and gloves.
Leathers explains how the personal protective equipment has evolved over time to better keep firefighters safe, protecting them from the high heat and unpredictable terrain.
Looking ahead, Leathers said she hopes to see the garden grow — but not with more stones. Each year another isn’t added, she’s happy.
As those gathered dispersed after the service, the Monarch butterflies continued to dance around the flowers and plants in the garden.
“I love the butterflies being here because I feel like it’s a sign from Heaven that we’re doing this right,” Leathers said, smiling.