Memorial service honors Texas firefighters

The 28^th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will honor four Texas firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008.

They will be among the 98 men and five women from 36 states remembered at the official national service held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg.

Nineteen firefighters who died in previous years also will be honored.

• Fire Apparatus Operator Roger Dennis, Jr., age 55, of the San Antonio Fire Department died of a heart attack within 24 hours of responding on an EMS call on February 29, 2008.
• Firefighter Dale Grider, age 36, of the Dekalb Volunteer Fire Department died of a heart attack within 24 hours of responding to a grass fire and while enroute to department training on September 29, 2008.
• Firefighter Joe Pat Jordan, age 71, of the Pickton/Pine Force Volunteer Fire Department died of a heart attack while responding to a motor vehicle accident on July 4, 2008.
• Fire Chief Robert Knight, age 42, of the Teague Volunteer Fire Department died after being struck by a falling wall at a commercial structure fire on July 5, 2008.

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