The ministry of music will be used again this year to minister to friends and families of Sampson County’s fallen firefighters, and to bring honor to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to serve others.

The seventh annual gospel sing will take place Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, 6 p.m., at the Agri-Civic Center in Clinton. The event is sponsored by the N.C. Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Sampson County Firemen Honor Guard.

Those whose memory will be honored at the sing will be Sampson County firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty — Billy Fryar, Cecil C. Thornton, Hampton L. Hobbs, Brian A. Cannon, Bridgett N. Autry, Phillip S. Hulen and Jeffery Scott Hollingworth.

Following a time of tribute to these fallen firefighters, entertainment will be provided by Ed O’Neal and The Dixie Melody Boys, the ViewMasters and The Tew Family.

This event was originated by Wayne Weeks, a former member of Vann’s Crossroads Fire Department and a singer with the ViewMasters. He is also close with the family of fallen firefighter Brian Cannon. When Cannon lost his life, Weeks wanted to help the family and keep Cannon’s memory alive. Someone suggested trying a gospel sing. Since Weeks was already holding one each year to celebrate the anniversary of his gospel group, he just changed the purpose to make it about fallen firefighters.

Weeks commented that he feels “wonderful to use Southern gospel music and Christian aspects to benefit these people ... It’s an honor to me having been a former firefighter and knowing Brian personally.”

For Weeks, the event is important because it “broadens the knowledge of the general public” about the sacrifices made by firemen. “We all go to bed at night and put our heads on the pillow and we never think about hearing an alarm going off, getting up in the middle of the cold night. These men and women go and they don’t think about the fact that they may not be coming back home, may never see their families again, and all to save someone else’s life if possible.”

Along with Weeks, two groups present this event each year.

The Sampson County Firemen Honor Guard, comprised of 12 firefighters from across Sampson County, is a group who’s purpose is to “honor fallen comrades,” according commander Keith Powell. The Honor Guard serves at funerals, flag ceremonies and parades, as well as events like this. This annual gospel sing, Powell reported, is a “huge part of our yearly budget.”

Powell also commented on behalf of the N.C. Fallen Firefighter Foundation. This foundation’s main goal is to ensure the sacrifice of fallen firefighters is never forgotten. At the core of firemen, Powell explained, is a deep sense of brotherhood that does not end even upon the death of a brother of sister firefighter. “We never forget one of our fallen,” he reiterated.

The purpose of these two groups, Powell explained, goes hand-in-hand — to remember and honor fallen firefighters. This annual gospel sing is one way these two groups can join together to do just that.

Remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is a part of finding closure for the loss for both the fallen firefighters’ families and for fellow firefighters, Powell stated. He noted how the fire departments really struggle with deaths of fellow firefighters just as the families do because a department is a “close-knit group ... much like a family.” “Most don’t know how we suffer at the station ... we never get over (the loss of a brother). We just learn to live with it.”

Powell testified that this event has been a saving grace for him personally. He reported that he was in the vehicle with Cannon when he died. “I lost my best friend and I didn’t get a scratch. It made me ask why I was still here and he wasn’t and I was looking for something. That’s why I got involved with the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. I found that I was not walking this journey alone.” He added that working with this foundation and the honor guard and doing events like this is his way of helping and giving back because he feels he owes it to Cannon, as well as others who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

He went on to say that this gospel sing is a ministry. “(The Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Sampson County Firemen Honor Guard) care and families have somebody they can come to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year ... that gives them a sense of security ... we truly know how they feel.”

The families have expressed their appreciation for this event and others like it. “I think the families and the departments are really thankful for this (concert). They love this event and this mission and they try to come every year ... we get great feedback from the families,” Powell commented.

Weeks added that the families and friends are “so thankful that someone is remembering the ultimate sacrifice” of these fallen firefighters ... 900 to 1,200 people have attended each year ... People say it’s a blessing and would not miss it again.”

Not only does the event take time to remember the fallen firefighters from this county, the event also uses the money raised to give to the N.C. Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Sampson County Honor Guard. Weeks said the money raised by the sing is used to keep equipment, uniforms and other needed items in supply at fire departments in the area.

For more information or for tickets, contact Weeks at (910) 592-5132 or Powell at (910) 214-5749.

Amy Kelly can be reached at 592-8137 ext. 119