Gravestones Restored; Honor Revived For First Responders

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas Fire-Rescue has restored the headstones of eight Line of Duty Death grave sites at Oakland Cemetery in southern Dallas. They held an "Honor Ceremony" at the once neglected cemetery located near Malcolm X Boulevard and Pine Street.

Last October members from Fire Station 44 discovered that one of their own, John Clark (the first Dallas first responder to die on duty) was buried there.

Much to their surprise, they not only located the gravesite of Clark, but that of seven other fire fighters who died while on duty.

Unfortunately, most of the grave sites had gone unattended for years and were corroded to the point where the headstones were illegible.

Two of the grave site's head stones had eroded away completely.

Thus, during the past nine months, members from Dallas-Fire Rescue worked tirelessly to both restore those headstones, and all the grave sites, to their former condition.

They also bought new headstones for the two vacant spots.

In addition to the firefighters in attendance 50-70 family members of the former firefighters buried were in attendance.

The following eight public servants who died in the line of duty were honored:

John Clark - 6/24/1902

Henry G. Hodges - 6/24/1902

Hugo J. Rheinlander - 9/17/1918

Bert E. Burris - 6/30/1923

E.O. "Charlie" Jones - 8/18/1923

George W. Hulse - 11/16/1927

Eddie L. Frith - 2/9/1931

Jack Edward Sullivan - 5/14/1945

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