The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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| Hundreds of firefighters attend |
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Friday, July 30, 2010
By JOEL TURNER - Staff Writer
Hundreds of mourners and firefighters from throughout Virginia and other states attended the funerals of Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon and fireman Danny Altice as the lives of two fallen firefighters were celebrated and eulogized in separate funeral ceremonies Friday.
Dillon and Altice, who died together last Monday in the violent crash of their fire truck en route to a house fire, were remembered and praised for their service to the community in solemn, deeply moving and emotional funeral services.
More than 500 firefighters from across Virginia and other states were among about 1,500 mourners at Dillon's funeral at Franklin Heights Baptist Church.
More than 100 firefighters were among hundreds of mourners at Altice's service at the Rocky Mount United Methodist Church.
The flag-draped caskets of both firefighters were placed on a Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department fire truck for the processions to their burials.
More than 100 fire engines, rescue vehicles and police cars from fire departments from as far away as Southwest and Northern Virginia led the funeral procession for Dillon to Glade Hill Baptist Church where he was buried.
Friends and fellow firefighters said that Dillon and Altice died doing what they have been doing since they volunteered for the fire department decades ago -- trying to save lives and other people's property.
As the poet T. S. Eliot once wrote, "In my beginning is my end."
As their fellow firefighters said, the two longtime firefighters' deep desire to help others and serve the community led to their deaths as they were performing their duty when killed in the accident.
Dillon "helped thousands in the spirit of Christian love. He did it out of love for his fellow man,"ﾠRev. David Long told the mourners. "He gave everything he had. He gave his life helping others."
Quoting scripture, Long said that Dillon exemplified the Christian teaching that greater love has no man than laying down his life for others.
Fighting back tears, Chaplain Richard Gore of the Rocky Mount Fire Department said that Altice served the community until the end of his life.
"Danny had a call to go to last Monday, and he went to that call," Gore said. "And if he were here today, he would tell us to keep on going."
The ministers at both funerals focused on another theme from the poet Eliot, who also wrote:
"To make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from."
The ministers said that Dillon and Altice have ended their earthly life, but they are beginning a new spiritual life.
"This is not the end of life for Danny Altice," said the Rev. John Plummer, pastor of Rocky Mount United Methodist Church.
"If Jesus can come back to life, Danny can have a new life in eternity. This is the morning of his new life," Plummer said.
At the funeral service for Dillon, the Wright Kids sang a song that was written by Aspen Black of Sontag, a singer, songwriter and composer to honor the firefighters, that built on that theme.
It concluded with these words:
"I'm going home, I know you understand.
There'll be some hard times, but you'll get by
so close your eyes and rest awhile
and I'll see you on the other side.
Yes, I'll be waiting...on the other side."
Long, one of the pastors at Dillon's funeral, said that the earthly door has been closed for the two fallen firefighters, but the window of heaven has been opened for them.
"This physical death is not an interruption, but a continuation of eternal life. The soul goes back to God,"
Pastor Eddie Hawks told the mourners.
Dillon, who was Rocky Mount's fire chief for 20 years, was a member of the fire department for 33 years.
Altice was a member of the fire department for 47 years, joining the department when he was 20 years old. He served as fire chief from 1977 to 1984.
Altice was awarded the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Service Recognition Award by Rocky Mount Town Council.
Altice's father, William Oliver "W.O." Altice, was a longtime member of Rocky Mount Fire Department, as well as his brother, Barry Altice, who has been a member since 1975. His son, William Carey Altice, is a member of Boones Mill Fire Department.
The funeral for Dillon was held atﾠFranklin Heights Baptist because it is the largest church in Franklin County and seats about 1,300.
The mourners began arriving at the church at 9 a.m., two hours before the service.
The church was filled and another room was used to handle the overflow crowd.
The flag-draped, closed casket of Dillon was placed at the front of the sanctuary with a large portrait of him nearby. His fireman's hat and a framed copy of "A Fireman's Prayer" were placed near the casket.
There were many wreaths of flowers on both sides of the casket.
For the Dillon and Altice services, Arrington Flowers
made two Maltese Cross stand flower arrangements.
The Maltese Cross symbolizes the firefighting brotherhood.
The florist also made a third Maltese Cross from silk flowers that firefighters placed at the scene of the accident atﾠOld Franklin Turnpike and School Board Road.
There were color guards at the services for both firefighters.
Rocky Mount Mayor Steve Angle and Assistant Town Manager Matt Hankins spoke at Dillon's service.
Angle said he had been a friend of Dillon for 40 years and served on town council with him for 14 years.
Angle said that Dillon was "kind, devoted and community-minded."
Dillon "never lost sight of what was best for the community," Angle said, "He loved the Rocky Mount Fire Department."
"We will not say good-bye to Posey. We will just miss him until we meet again," Angle told the mourners.
Hankins said that Dillon was a "mentor, friend and role model" for many young firefighters.
"We have a safer community because of Posey,"ﾠHankins said.
The mourners at Dillon's service included Rocky Mount and Franklin County governmental officials, including members of town council and the board of supervisors.
Del. Charles Poindexter was also among the mourners.
After the funeral, Dillon's casket was taken outside the church where 500 firefighters in their uniforms stood in silent salute as it was placed on a Rocky Mount fire engine for the procession to the Glade Hill Baptist Church cemetery.
More than 100 fire engines, rescue vehicles and police cars from fire departments from as far away as Southwest and Northern Virginia led the funeral procession for Dillon.
The funeral for Altice was held at Rocky Mount United Methodist Church. Mourners began arriving at 1 p. m., two hours before the service.
The funerals for Dillon and Altice were held at different times so the firefighters and fire trucks could participate in the processions for both firefighters.
Like Dillon's service, Altice's flag-draped, closed casket was at the front the sanctuary. There were photographs of Altice, with his fireman's hat and wreaths of flowers.
Some firefighters sat in the choir loft at Altice's service.
Altice's services included more traditional elements of a worship, including the mourners singing hymns.
With Lynn Meeks playing the organ, the mourners sang two old hymns, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "How Great Thou Art."
"We are here to celebrate the life and present honors to Danny Altice," said Plummer, the minister.
In his homily, Plummer said that like all people, Altice was "'too young to die" and left "unfinished business."
Death is "the enemy that cuts everyone's life too short," Plummer said.
But he said that Christ offered a new life for Altice, just as he offers a new life and resurrection for everyone who believes in him.
The mourners at Altice's service included more than 200 firefighters from fire departments throughout Virginia.
Rocky Mount and Franklin County governmental officials also attended Altice's service.
The church was filled and some firefighters remained outside.
Like Dillon's service, the firefighters stood at silent salute outside the church as Altice's casket was placed on a Rocky Mount Fire Department fire engine for the procession to Franklin Memorial Park where he was buried.
As Gore, the chaplain for the Rocky Mount Fire Department, struggled to avoid crying, he told the mourners that they should remember "the good parts of Danny's life."
Altice "loved the fire department" and he died doing what he loved, Gore said.
A carefully folded American flag was presented to Dillon's widow, Ann, at the gravesite.
Frances Holley, Altice's fiancee, received the American flag at his gravesite. |
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