KEEPING MEMORIES ALIVE: PERMANENT HONOR GUARD FORMS TO REMEMBER THOSE LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY

Fire Capt. Jim Eckhoff was on duty 6,000 miles from the World Trade Center when terrorists' planes crashed into it, but in his heart, he was there with his doomed brothers and sisters.

When Santa Rosans gathered to commemorate those who were lost, firefighters joined with law enforcement to form a combined honor guard.

Soon after, Eckhoff and others made it permanent, forming a fire service honor guard to keep alive memories of all who fall in the line of duty.

"Nine-eleven was a defining moment for the fire service," Eckhoff says. "It was an unprecedented loss for one incident. I remember thinking, ???How many of our brothers and sisters were in that building?' A permanent honor guard was established as a continuing tribute."

Fourteen firefighters from the International Association of Firefighters Local 1401 volunteered and were trained, representing the Santa Rosa Fire Department and the Rincon Valley Fire Protection District.

The fire service is a vocation with a distinctive culture, long-honored traditions, a familial sense of pride and a dedicated chivalry. Each firefighter is part of a station house family but also related to all other firefighters through a bond forged in combating a shared menace.

For those who crawl through smoldering flames, endure soaring temperatures and risk their lives to save others, honor guard members believe extraordinary recognition is due.

As the officer in charge of the honor guard, Eckhoff attended classes to learn basic and advanced marching and formations, color guard protocol, rifle and parade tool techniques, etiquette, flag folding and presentation. He also learned how to communicate with funeral home directors, clergy and surviving family members.

In their first year, the honor guard marched in the Rose Parade, participated in the Heroes USA stamp dedication and the memorial for retired firefighter Carl Harrison.

"A line-of-duty death doesn't have to be fighting a fire or even on the job," Eckhoff said. "The retired firefighters who die of cancer or heart attack may be linked to a work exposure or be job related."

In the second year, they won first place in the Rose Parade, attended a flag raising ceremony for 9/11, saluted the casket and took part in the memorial service for firefighter Steven Rucker, who was killed in San Diego County's Cedar fire.

The honor guard now participates in six to 10 events a year, including promotions, badge pinning, academy graduations, patriotic events and funerals.

Engineers Don Lopez and Keith Jeffus are original members of the honor guard formed in 2001. Lopez has been a firefighter for almost 30 years.

"When I march, I think about those that have fallen and the new ones just starting with the fire service," he says. "We have to move forward, but the loss of 9/11 is always with us.

"Being a part of the honor guard has even more meaning for me now that my son is in the Navy serving in Barim, Iraq. I am proud of him. I support him.

Nine-eleven was ultimately responsible for him joining the military.

"I am serving my country in the fire service, and he's serving it in the military."

Lopez says that 9/11 made him think about his mortality.

Firefighters constantly train to minimize risks, but it's a dangerous job, and any day could mean death.

"I was on duty that morning," says Jeffus, a firefighter for more than 15 years. "I feel an extra sense of duty to honor those who lost their lives doing what we do.

"The honor guard carries with it a responsibility and a connection to all firefighters."

Firefighter Josh Gagnebin, an 18-year veteran from Santa Rosa, joined the guard in 2006.

"While I was growing up, I saw firefighter honor guards on television," he says. "The two were always tied together.

"We will always remember the loss of life on 9/11. It was ominous being at work and thinking, ???On any day, any fire department would have done exactly what the New York firefighters were doing.' It reminded me that any day I could go out the station door on a call, and it could be the last."

One event the honor guard looks forward to is the dedication of a firefighter/public safety memorial at the Santa Rosa training site. Fire departments that asked for one were given an I-beam from the World Trade Center.

Santa Rosa will use its I-Beam as the centerpiece in a memorial dedicated to both fire and police. Explains Eckhoff, "We always remember that the police department suffered on 9/11, too."

Other current members of the honor guard are Santa Rosa Fire Department firefighter/medic Tim Aboudara, engineer Frank Damante, retired engineer Bob Geasland, engineer Mike McCallum, engineer Bob Powers, firefighter/ medic Paul Ricci, captain/ medic Scott Westrope and, from the Rincon Valley Fire Protection District, firefighter Randy White.