Honoring the fallen.
"In each of the Bryan fire stations, this slogan is displayed. Everyone goes home," shared Bryan Mayor jason Bienski.
"Lt Eric Wallace and Lt. Greg Pickard have gone home to a very special place. They have gone home to the lord and savior Jesus Christ. They were very brave and heroic men who I am proud to have known, but most importantly they are servants of God in service to their families and to their community ," he continued.
Community leaders and fellow firefighters paid their respects to Lt. Eric Wallace and Greg Pickard this morning at a public memorial. It was a massive showing support for two families that are grieving the loss of loved ones.
Fire fighters, current and retired, showed up to pay their final respects to two of their fallen brothers.
"To Brothers Pickard and Wallace," read Bryan Fire Lt. D.J. Carpenter," Their last alarm. They're going home."
As the final alarm bell rang out inside Central Baptist Church Wednesday afternoon, the start reality echoed in thousands of people's ears: two of their fellow firefighters were not coming back to the station.
Eric Wallace and Greg Pickard were firefighters respected in their profession. They were also heroes honored by their actions.
"Fallen firefighters are shown support from their fellow firefighters, from the community and the world we live in," said Dave White, a retired firefighter. He added this support in death is a firefighter tradition.
The deaths of Eric Wallace and Greg Pickard affected the greater firefighter family. Wednesday, they let two families know they will never be alone, even by those who are watching over those injured by Friday's fire
"[Wednesday] is the beginning of a very long relationship between a thousand of their closest friends. They can't go anywhere in the state of Texas without knowing they are loved," said Galveston Fire Chief Jeff Smith.
Smith, and his firefighters, are keeping watch over Rickey Mantey and Mitch Moran.
"We've been with them around the clock," explained Smith.
"We want the families to know that the minute the skids touch ground, Galveston firefighters will not leave their families' side," continued Smith.
Proving the bond between firefighters has no boundary.
