Throughout the fire service, departments periodically commemorate their fallen firefighters for their service and ultimate sacrifice. The wall located at Fire Station 1 has served that purpose since 1987. 

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Jacksonville Firefighter Wayne Doolittle was the driving force behind the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department's Fallen Firefighter Memorial. He relied upon the talents and resources of dozens of local individuals, many of them firefighters, to bring the wall to fruition. The concept emerged in the 1960's when Doolittle's father, Charles, a volunteer firefighter encouraged his son to one day create a memorial to honor local firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. 

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Two decades later, Doolittle began to fulfill his father's wish when, by chance, he happened upon a massive bronze bell stored in the basement of a downtown city-owned building. His discovery would be the ideal centerpiece for a memorial given the symbolism of bells in the fire service. The 1.5 ton creation's original home was the belfry atop Jacksonville's City Hall, which in 1902 replaced the older building that had been lost to The Great Fire of 1901. 

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Momentum for the memorial accelerated in 1986 when official announced plans for a new Fire Station #1  at 611 North Liberty Street. This site would serve as an ideal location for the memorial. Among the memorial's supporters were Jacksonville's Honorable Mayor Jake Godbold, Public Safety Director Dale Beerbower, and Deputy Director / Fire Chief Miles Bowers. Doolittle soon assembled a team to design, fund, and construct the memorial. Lt. Ricky Bowers drafted the plans and District Chief Larry Osborne authored the "Symbolism of the Bell" text. 

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On June 29th 1987, city officials, citizens and numerous firefighters celebrated new Fire Station 1's opening and dedication of the Fallen Firefighter Memorial. It remains the site of the department's annual Fallen Firefighter Ceremony. 

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