Firefighters ride to remember fallen

Fri, May 30, 2008

By EMILY STRANGER

The Brunswick News

Jeff Morse, a firefighter from Naples, Fla., didn't know any of the nine firefighters killed in the Sofa Super Store blaze in Charleston on June 18, 2007.

Still, Morse said he feels like he lost nine siblings.

"When you're a firefighter, you're part of a brotherhood," he said. "We always know we are going to lose firefighters in the line of duty, but when a tragedy happens and nine at a time die, it not only makes us think about what we're doing, but it also makes our families think."

Morse is one of 19 firefighters bicycling his way from Naples to Charleston on a nine-day fundraising expedition titled Brotherhood Ride 2008. The group spent the night in Brunswick on Thursday.

"We're dedicating each day to one of the firefighters who was killed," said Morse. "We begin the day with a moment of silence and a reading of the firefighter's bio. It gets really emotional for us."

All proceeds generated will go to the families of the nine firefighters who were killed in South Carolina last summer. The group has already raised $25,000, said Morse.

The cyclists left Naples on Saturday and plan to arrive in Charleston on Sunday, covering 600 miles of coastal landscape.

On Thursday, they left Jacksonville at 8 a.m. and stopped in Brunswick for the night.

Their first stop when they arrived in Glynn County around 3:30 p.m. was at Glynn County Fire Station No. 6, at 3320 U.S. 17 South, where they took a 15-minute break to recoup and hydrate.

Glynn County Capt. Chuck Yeargan, who oversees Fire Station No. 6, welcomed the group.

"We're honored to have them stop and honored to help their cause," he said.

The firefighters stayed at the Elks Lodge at 1509 Union St. for the night. They were treated to a pot roast dinner and given a place to bathe.

Most of the 19 were from southwest Florida, though three were from Houston and one from Cincinnati.

Bob Branch, a cyclist from Houston, said the ride had been smooth for the most part.

Details:

To make a donation to Brotherhood Ride 2008, visit its Web site at www.brotherhoodride.com

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