Our view: Remember all fallen firefighting heroes

They slip on the boots, throw on the bulky jackets and stuff their heads into helmets so heavy. In bitter cold and blistering heat. They run in; others, sensibly, sprint out. They face dangers so the rest of us can be safe.

And, sometimes, they make the ultimate sacrifice.

Since 1881, 205 Minnesota firefighters have died in the line of duty, including at least 19 from the Duluth area. For years, our state has remembered them and honored them with a Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial -- located in the baggage-claim area of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Call it a touching tribute but with a terrible location.

A year ago, the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation launched a worthy initiative to rebuild and relocate the memorial to a larger and more-accessible space on the grounds of the State Capitol. Firefighters and others pitched in, raising $600,000, and construction began.

Nearly finished now, the new memorial is scheduled to be dedicated on Sept. 30. Thousands are expected to be there, including hundreds of family members of those who have fallen. Each family is to receive a flag flown over the capitol along with their state's sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude.

But will every family be found in time so they can attend? More than 100 families have yet to be located, including the descendants of 13 fallen firefighters from the Duluth area. Anyone related to, who suspects they might be related to, or who can offer leads on descendants of any of the following fallen Duluth-area firefighters is asked to immediately contact Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Nyle Zikmund at (612) 860-7442 or at nzikmund@

sbmfire.com.

--Archibald Finlayson (who died in 1898)

--Arthur Twaddle (1898)

--William McVittie (1899)

--Phillip Stackmesser (1902)

--Arthur F. Rose (1908)

--John J. Kelly (1909)

--Henry C. Rumpel (1914)

--Fredrick E. Granzow (1915)

--Charles W. Wilson (1920)

--Patrick H. Sullivan (1929)

--Orvie Mellen Solberg (1945)

--William Edward Mayhew (1953)

--Arthur A. Olson (1961)

The kin of six fallen Duluth-area firefighters already have been located, according to Duluth Fire Chief John Strongitharm.

"My main goal is to get these names out there so relatives can see them and can call. We'd hate to have any families from Duluth not be recognized," Strongitharm said in an interview yesterday with the News Tribune Opinion page. "The whole purpose of the memorial is to recognize the service and sacrifice of these firefighters. That hasn't always happened in the past."

Anyone who recognizes a name can help to make sure it happens now.