T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief I Ron Hilton stands with Justin Gallagher of Randall L. Gallagher Memorials, Inc., who will engrave names onto the monument as the fire department recognizes firemen who have died within the past year.

MARTINS FERRY — The Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department will honor those members who served as first responders and died within the past year.

The fire department recognizes honorary members of the fire departments who have passed away every year on the first Sunday of May.

This year, the department will honor four men this Sunday by putting their names on a monument in the city park.

Past Chief Tom Kelly Jr., Robert Scarfpin, William Rice, John Applegarth III and Joe Dalton have all died within the past year and served with the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department.

Members qualify as honorary by being in active service for 10 years.

Four companies have their own side on the monument with the list of names for that company. This includes Vigilant Engine I, Vigilant Engine II, Liberty Engine III and the Latter Station.

The department rotates churches every year, and this year, members chose St. Mary’s Church to hold the service. After attending the service at the church, fire department members will go to the park’s monument to recognize the firemen who have passed.

After the recognition at the monument, fire department members will head to the American Legion, where members will treat the department to a luncheon.

Randall L. Gallagher Memorials, Inc. will engrave the names on the monument.

Fire Chief Ron Hilton emphasized the fire department is all volunteer, and firemen give up their time away from their families to protect the city of Martins Ferry.

“It’s just a tradition that goes way back in the beginning of the fire department,” Hilton said. “And it’s special to us to honor the firemen who come before us and paved the road for us.”