Kailey Hill can’t talk about her dad without tears. Ricky Hill Jr., a paramedic firefighter, died at the scene of a Feb. 25, 2023, Flint fire after suffering a heart emergency, she said. He was 49.
On Wednesday, she spoke to more than 100 attendees at the annual Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony in Pontiac. The memorial is just outside the Oakland County Sheriff’s office and drew police officers, firefighters and family members from around the state.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the memorial was “especially bitter” this year, because one of the names being added to the long wall is Deputy Brad Reckling, 30, shot dead on June 22 in Detroit while investigating a stolen vehicle. He left three children and his wife, pregnant with their fourth.
First responders give their time and sometimes their lives to protect strangers, Bouchard said.
“I pray that we never add another name to that wall,” he said, adding that he knows that will not be true.
Fellow deputy and family friend Nate Rogers spoke for the Recklings, recalling that he and Brad started their careers together working at the county jail, then worked road patrol jobs before advancing to investigative work. He said Reckling loved his wife and children above all else.
“There’s a huge hole in the hearts of many people,” Rogers said. “Brad loved his job but didn’t let it define him. None of this is fair, not for any of us.”
Hill, 20, was surprised by the invitation to speak at the ceremony but glad to use her time to offer condolences to those grieving a loss and urge them to remember the good days over the single terrible day that changed their lives.
She shared stories about her dad’s goofiness, how he entertained her, brother Ethan and fellow firefighters with his innate ability to quickly learn any instrument he picked up, getting people to join in on songs. He loved skateboarding, pinball games and telling jokes, she said.
She urged people to “deeply feel the joy they brought you then and try to feel it now. Try to make every day a good day. Spend it with the people you love doing the things you love to do,” she said. “Hug your people. Text them. Tell them you love them so that when the bad dates come, they won’t hurt as bad because of the good dates.”
After her dad’s death, she changed her college major from business to graphic design because he had encouraged her to explore her creative side.
Like Hill, Melvindale Police Cpl. Mohamed Hacham couldn’t escape tears. He talked about the shooting death of his friend and colleague, Cpl. Mohamed Said on July 21. Hacham, in his first year as a police officer, said he’d come to work an hour early that day and was on the road when Said, 26, called for backup.
“I didn’t expect this so early in my career,” Hacham said, calling Said a buddy and “like a little brother to me … He was a person of joy. He wanted peace for this country and peace for his city.”
Hacham broke down before saying, “We are one big family. Look to the person next to you and tell them, ‘I love you.’”
People did.
Sarah Butler also spoke. Her husband, Hillsdale Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Butler, was shot and killed on June 27. He was 51. She called him a remarkable man, a compassionate husband and loving father to his children.
“While he’s gone from us,” she said, her voice breaking, “he will never be forgotten.”
Bloomfield Hills resident Rhonda Angelo attended the event for the first time. She had never heard of the ceremony or the memorial until learning her neighbor Jennifer DeMello-Johnson, would be singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
“It was very emotional. I remember hearing about each of these people who passed,” she said. “It was very, very emotional, very beautiful.”
She plans to bring her husband and grandchildren to visit the memorial in the near future.
Amanda Ford, the sheriff’s office community liaison who plans this event each year, said one of the benefits of the memorial is bringing grieving families together.
The Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial is at 1200 North Telegraph, Building 38E in Pontiac and includes a 9/11 memorial as well as the Fallen Heroes installation and the Military Fallen Heroes Memorial honoring Oakland County residents who died while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The memorial is open for visitors at any time. Learn more at www.michiganfallenheroes.com.
Originally Published: September 11, 2024 at 6:20 p.m.
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Publish date : 2024-09-11 11:21:00
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