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City of Palm Bay News Release
firefighter placed on international memorial
Posted: 09/17/07
 The name of a Palm Bay Firefighter who died earlier this year is now etched in granite and permanently marked on a hero’s wall as a memorial to his strength courage and dedication to the fire service. Michael L. Marcinik is now part of the IAFF (International Association of Firefighters) Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A special ceremony marking the addition of Marcinik’s name along with 113 others was held on Saturday at the site of the memorial. Marcinik’s family and four of his closest colleagues traveled to Colorado to attend. “It’s truly an honor to be here for Mike,” said Firefighter Ed Yanes who worked with Marcinik. “I think this is a powerful testament to him and all firefighters who sacrifice so much for the sake of others.”
Marcinik spent 22-years with the Palm Bay Fire Department. He graduated from the fire academy in 1984, became a paramedic in 1987 and rose through the ranks to become captain in 2005. He died on May 19, 2007 at the age of 44.
 The IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial was established in 1987, with the first of two granite walls being erected in 1989. The walls bear the names of hundreds of firefighters killed in the line of duty. Although thousands have died throughout the IAFF’s history, names etched on the wall only date back through 1976 when the United Sates Federal Government first began tracking line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. Each year for the last twenty years firefighters from the United States and Canada pay special tribute to their fallen brothers and sisters in the fire service. This year marked the 21st observance which included more than 100 bagpipers and honor guard participants. Marcinik’s widow was given an honorary IAFF flag bearing the name of her late husband.
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Yvonne Martinez
Public Information Coordinator
Phone (321) 952-3456 ext. 4678
Cell (321) 426-5194
130 Malabar Road
Palm Bay, FL 32907
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