Memorial wording sparks debate

BRUNSWICK – Firefighters will be allowed to erect a memorial that features a poem with a reference to God and language that some town councilors viewed as sexist.

The poem, “A Fireman’s Prayer,” was written in 1959 by Kansas firefighter A.W. Linn and is found on memorials across the country.

Some town councilors were concerned that a reference to God could violate legal standards on the separation of church and state, and that other lines might imply that only men can be firefighters. Objections were also raised to the use of the word “fireman” instead of the gender-neutral word “firefighter.”

The Town Council voted Monday to allow the monument to be built as planned, but not before debate.

“To put a monument in 2005 on a public piece of property which completely cuts women out of the equation is wrong,” said Newell Augur.

Councilor Joanne King saw no problems with the language.

“I think women are empowered by their actions to become firefighters, police officers or doctors,” King said. “I don’t think the average woman is going to be threatened by a poem that was written in 1959.”

Members of the local firefighters union completed a $12,000 fundraising campaign in 2002 to build a memorial honoring town firefighters.

Firefighters selected “A Fireman’s Prayer” to appear on the monument, which will be erected next spring next to a new fire station at Cooks Corner.

The poem’s first line reads, “When I’m called to the duty of God.” The final lines read: “And if according to my fate, I am to lose my life, Please bless with your protecting hand, My children and my wife.”

Councilors had no problem with placing a monument on the property, but several questioned the poem’s reference to God and asked the town’s attorney to determine if it would leave the town open to a lawsuit.

Town attorney Geoffrey Hole said the language would not give the impression that local government was endorsing religion. Councilors voted 9-0 to leave the word God in the poem.

In another vote, three council members did not want to allow the wording to remain as originally written. But the other six councilors said it would be inappropriate to change the wording and that, at its heart, the poem is simply an homage to the sacrifices firefighters make.