Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-28
NATION MAY HAVE
DAY FOR F|REMEN
Annual Celebration of Serv-
ices Seen 0utgroWth of
Parade Here.

everyday services of frefighters through
out the land.
The sponsor OF this idea is Sergt.
A. J. Bargagni of the Washington Fire
DEPARTMENT He is the man who Gre
aseG Washingtons second line Of fire
defense in contacts with suburban vol
unteer departments and who has made
the annual firemen's parade on Labor
day an outstanding national event Of its
kind
Sergt. Bargagni is dreamer" but
of the practical type that makes his
dreams come true.
He Vsualizes a national firemen'S day
in a more tangible form than the mere
recitation of deeds Of heroiSm and sac
rifice. He would combine 1t with Fire
Prevention Week In broad program OF
conservation and education against nre
waste.
But what is uppermost in his heart
is the erection here, in the Capital OF
the Nation, of q great and lasting me-
mortal, preferably in the form OF a
suitable museum for the housing of
exhibits that would tell the story Of
Americas progress in methods OF f1re
fighting.
For 5-Day Program.
In brief, Sergt. Bargagni visualiSes
a three-day program. starting with a
national firemen's day which would be
another Memorial day in the homage
paid to the Nations defenders. On this
occasion, he suggested, the President OF
the United States, members Of the cab
met and high officials could utilize the
event in focusing national attention on
the sacrifices of this little heralded
e-time army, and in support OF
policies designed TO promote flre pre-
vention.
For the remainder of the program, he
would have the National Capital and
every other city and community stage
f1remen's parades and actual demon
STATIONS of fire fighting, along with
educational campaigns to end the hun
dreds of millions of dollars wasted an
naully by small and devastating fires.
SerRt. Bargss ni, having conceived
the idea, is preparing to pave the way
for its fulfllment He intends to get
the backing Of Federal and District
officials in submitting II to Congress
for its approval at the forthcoming
session.
OF the 100000 fremen in the
United States, he says, only about $780,
900 receive pay for their services. The
other million constitute q volunteer
second line of defense" for cities and
the only protection in thousands of
smaller communities.
With the Federal Government ex-
pending a third Of billion dollars in
q vast building program for the beauti-
f1cation of Washington, this man who
has devoted his life to the fire service
believes that somewhere there should
TT into this gigantic plan a memorial
dedicated to the firemen Of the country
who have given their lives with the
thought of sacrifice that actuated
Is armed defenders.
Rewards Richly Earned.
These men, the living and the dead.
are rendering q public service and
should get all the glory and honor out
of it that a grateful country can con-
fer upon them"
His idea of a suitable hremen's
memorial structure in washington has
not yet taken definite shape. But It
combines something that would pay a
tribute to the dead and preserve the
history Of fre-flghting methods.
Il would suggest" he said, "a build
ing where each State would be repre-
sented by o column On this column
I would have engraved the names Of
firemen, professional and volunteer,
who died in service. In this way their
names could be preserved for all time
1t is tribute which they deserve"
In hundreds Of cities and small
towns, Sergt. Bargagni pointed out,
there are still Anticipated types Of fire.
fighting apparatus. Some have been
left forgotten for years in country
sheds He suggests that models or
nnCcfhle
showing the progress Of developing the
modern engines and trucks be placed
on exhibit.
This flremen's museum, he suggests,
also could be made place for perna-
nent Government exhibits showing, for
instance, how the Forestry Service Is
trying to save Uncle Sans forest. Then,
too, the museum could be made the
repository Of collection Of historical
data and writings relating to conserva-
ton and other problems OF flre hghttng
and fire prevention.
Help Being Sought.
Sergt Bargagni realizes that these
things cannot be accomplished without
help and cooperation. But he has con-
fdence In public appreciation. He is
looking for some member OF the Senate
and House to introduce resolutions Gre
he staged the first firemen's parade here
nine years ago, few besides him be-
1ieved 1t soon was to grow to q national
scale. This Labor day, Sergt. Bargagni
pointed out with pride, an aggregation
of 200 firemen, with a 35-piece band, is
coming down all the way from Pough-
keepsie. N Y, to take part in the COM
ing parade.
AS a result of his tireless activities
he has been made an honorary mem
Der Of 81 volunteer fire departments in
Maryland. Virginia, West Virginia, Della
ware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
States that are now represented by hun
dredS Of flremen and scores of appa-
ratus in Washington's parade. This
year he declares the parade will be big
ger and better"
Instead of 81 engine and IA truck
companies" he said. Washington has
within call $50 fire companies within
50-nile radius.
Washington of a strong second line of
defense from fire. He went into subur-
ban communities, campaigned and
helped organize scores of departments.
The assistance rendered by these neigh
bor companies has been demonstrated
azores of times in cases of large fires
which required every piece of fighting
apparatus in the city and s. o. S. sig
mails for outside aid.
Recently Washington flremen re-
'ceived a series of alarms later discov-
cred to have been the work Of maniac.
Some were in outlying districts. On
more than one occasion it was the vol
untser company that made the run.
Formerly, about the only means of
protection the nearby suburbs had was
through the Washington apparatus
Eat AA
ing sections of the city proper unpro-
te6ted in the meantime.
Now Bethesda, Chevy Chase, HyattS-
willie. RiYerdale. Mount Rainier RoSSlYn