National Fallen Firefighters Foundation honors late Jasper Co. firefighter, 147 others
A Jasper County Fire-Rescue veteran firefighter who died while on duty in 2021 is among more than 100 firefighters set to be honored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s memorial weekend celebration in Maryland, according to a press release.
Brian Mixson, 32, died on March 17 after suffering a stroke while on duty, according to previous Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reporting. Mixson started having a headache while on duty on March 5 and was rushed to the hospital two days later after he had a change in vision. Mixson was admitted to the neuro intensive care unit at the Memorial Medical Center of Savannah where doctors diagnosed him with no brain activity. He remained on life support until his organs could be donated.
“As Brian lived, so did he pass — a servant of his fellow man,” said Russell Wells, who was the Jasper County Fire-Rescue interim fire chief at the time of Mixon’s death. “Brian’s last act of overwhelming selflessness and sacrifice was completed today as he gave his greatest gift, that of his organs to those he did not know.”
The weekend, a memorial event that has taken place annually for four decades, will take place from Oct. 8-9 in Emmitsburg, Maryland, officials said in the press release. Mixson’s name, along with 147 others, will be inscribed on a bronze plaque to become a permanent part of the memorial. The weekend was started to celebrate “each firefighter’s commitment to public duty,” according to the press release.
The memorial will begin with a candlelit service at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and the memorial service will begin 10 a.m. Sunday. Both services can be streamed live on the foundation’s website by going to www.firehero.org.
