It is fitting to reflect that 36 years ago the City Boston lost nine men in the line of duty on Commonwealth Ave and Dartmouth Street after a three hour firefight when without warning a sudden collapse took the lives of nine of Bostons bravest. The Vendome Hotel Fire memorial is dedicated to the memories and legacy of those nine Boston members firefighters killed that afternoon Lieutenant Thomas J. Carroll Lieutenant John E. Hanbury Jr. Firefighter Thomas W. Beckwith Firefighter Joseph E. Boucher Jr. Firefighter Charles E. Dolan Firefighter John E. Jameson Firefighter Richard B. Magee Firefighter Paul J. Murphy Firefighter Joseph P. Saniuk .
The City of Boston held a memorial today. Our good friend and legendary photographer Bill Noonan sent me a few photos. I hope he does not mind if I share some of his art with you. I think it is important to note that Boston never forgot and never will forget its heroes from that day. The constant respect and deep heritage of honor and duty that is a hallmark of the Boston Fire Department and in a greater sense common values for all of the fire service must be embraced as this week, we remember the Fathers Day fire, The Vendome Hotel Fire and tomorrow the Charleston Super Sofa Store fire. May God bless and protect us all and remember be careful out there. Bobby
