Wheeling Firefighters Hope Date Of Solemn Ceremony Never Changes

WHEELING — Members of the Wheeling Fire Department gathered at Heritage Port on Wednesday to remember city firefighters who over the years have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony took place once again on Oct. 29 — and members of the department stressed that they hope to never change the date of the yearly remembrance.

Officials hold the ceremony on Oct. 29 each year to commemorate the most recent line-of-duty death for the fire department. It was on that date in 1991 that Assistant Fire Chief Robert “Bob” Foster died while battling a structure fire in Center Wheeling.

Wednesday’s ceremony marked the 34th anniversary of Foster’s death, and officials stressed that they hoped his name will be the last one to be inscribed on the Fallen Fire