On 09/10/2016 I attended the Tennessee Fallen Fighters Memorial Service at the state training academy just outside Bell Buckle Tennessee. This is done each year to remember the firemen that have lost their life while on duty. The names go back to 1876. each name is read and a bell sounds for each name. I was there to speak on behalf of the Dennis McCloud family.
It really makes me sad to see no one was there from the Chattanooga Fire Department. Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis had a large amount of firemen there. Also smaller departments and even volunteer departments had firemen there.
That brings me to my next point; why is Dennis McCloud's name not on the Chattanooga Fire Memorial wall? We just learned that his name is on the national memorial in DC. It has only been 36 years when he lost his life while on duty with the Chattanooga Fire Department. Why is it taking so long, Chattanooga?
I am a big supporter of our fire department. I think it is past time to make this right and place Dennis McCloud's name on the Chattanooga Memorial wall. This will show support for the Chattanooga Firemen that gave the ultimate price for their service...a life.
Greg Hill
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I don't understand how the Public Safety Officers Benefit through the Department of Justice declared Dennis's death a line of duty death, the Tennessee Fallen Firefighters followed as well as the National Fallen Firefighter. The Chattanooga Fire Department has never done anything to honor him.
The past three years that I have gone to the Memorial not one person have I seen from Chattanooga and they had eight firefighters honored. What is wrong with Chattanooga?
I support firefighters 100 percent - they are a special breed of people to do what they do, but I do not understand how the city of Chattanooga does nothing to honor some of them.
Dennis loved the Chattanooga Fire Department but they have sure let him down. I have asked for the past 36 years why and I never get a response.
Chattanooga you may have forgotten, but I never will.
Goldia McCloud
Wife of Dennis W. McCloud