Kingwood Church of Christ honored Kingwood firefighters during a Sunday service Oct. 18. At their request, the church donated 5,000 along with numerous plants to the construction of a memorial for HFD Station 26 firefighters Capt. James Harlow and Damion Hobbs, who lost their lives fighting a residential fire Easter Sunday while searching for possible persons inside the home.
By STEFANIE THOMAS
Updated: 10.18.09
They eat together, sleep together, and face danger - together.
The unique and powerful nature of the closely knit family of fire fighters can be hard to understand for outsiders, but the sense of community among them propelled Houston Fire Department fire fighters in Kingwood to forgo the annual reward bestowed to local members of the fire service by Kingwood Church of Christ on behalf of colleagues in need.
“Ever since the year after 9/11, our church has recognized the fire fighters of [HFD] District 102. Every year we’ve given them a small token gift - recliners, cookware, a brass bell, orange trees,” said Beth Palmer, member of the church’s outreach committee. “This year, fire fighter Jackie Hanson from Station 101 in Kingwood told us they didn’t need anything, but said they could use our help with building a memorial at Station 26, which isn’t their district at all. We were very moved by their selflessness and realized what a tight fraternity the fire fighters have in this community.”
The memorial Kingwood fire fighters chose to support will be erected in honor of HFD Station 26 fire fighters Capt. James Harlow and Damion Hobbs, who lost their lives in the line of duty Easter Sunday while fighting a residential fire on the southeast side of Houston, near Hobby Airport.
Palmer said the church took up a special collection and during Sunday service Oct. 18, dozens of fire fighters from HFD Kingwood stations as well as Station 26 were in attendance as church leaders presented a $5,000 check to fire officials, along with numerous plants to help beautify the memorial. The funds will be applied to the cost of landscaping, lighting and irrigation, Palmer said.
Family members of Hobbs and Harlow watched from the front pews as Hanson stepped up to the pulpit to recognize and remember their loved ones’ heroism.
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