Brockport Firefighters joined the family of fallen hero Firefighter James A. Hopkins at the NYS Fallen Firefighters Memorial Wall in Albany when his name and the name of Firefighter Freeman J. Board were added to the wall.
In a somber, yet fitting ceremony, state fire officials shared the stage with Governor Kathy Hochul, Homeland Security Commissioner Jackie Bray and others when they acknowledged the addition of 29 fallen firefighters during the 26th Annual Ceremony held at the Empire State Plaza. The Governor had this to say “It is a distinct honor and privilege to join with the families, friends, and colleagues of these fallen firefighters, to recognize these heroes and their families for their sacrifices. We can never thank these brave firefighters enough for rushing into danger to protect New Yorkers from fire danger.”
In her remarks, Commissioner Bray spoke of Firefighter Board specifically when she said “Today, we are honoring 29 fallen firefighters, one of whom I venture has little family in the room. Freeman J. Board was a member of the Thomas Cornes Engine and Hose Company #3 of the Village of Brockport in Monroe County. He was appointed a member of the fire department on March 12th, 1877. He died on June 19th, 1882 when a fire broke out shortly before midnight. He wasn’t on duty. He wasn’t scheduled to work that night, but he showed up anyway and he perished helping others to safety.” This was the only firefighter loss mentioned in detail during the remarks of those that took to the microphone.
Both of the Brockport Firefighters are historic additions accepted for inclusion earlier this year after a review of the nominations submitted by the Brockport Fire District to be added.
Firefighter Freeman J. Board was “destroyed by fire” as reported in the local news media in June of 1882 during the Johnston Harvester manufacturing plant fire on North Main Street in the Village of Brockport. Firefighter James A. Hopkins died as a direct result of injuries he sustained while performing Emergency Medical Services for the Brockport Fire Department in 1971.
Mrs. Barbara Baase, widow of James Hopkins and her daughter, Kimberly with her husband Michael were at the ceremony to accept the New York State flag boxed in a maple flag frame that had been flown over the Memorial earlier this year in honor of their family member. Past Chief Norman Knapp escorted the Hopkins family during the ceremony representing the Brockport FD.
Christopher Martin, District PIO accepted the boxed flag on behalf of the Board family, and he was accompanied by Past Chiefs Laurence Vaughan and Michael Menear.
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