Bells Ring In Upper Marlboro in Observance of Bells Across America

Bells Ring In Upper Marlboro in Observance of Bells Across America

Written by Meghan Trexler Decker

October 7, 2012

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church

Upper Marlboro, Maryland

In Upper Marlboro, Maryland the sound of a church bell could be heard ringing over the quiet town on October 6th and 7th in honor of all firefighters who had lost their lives in the line of duty in the past year. This is the second year for St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Upper Marlboro to participate in Bells Across America, a tradition begun by the National Fallen Firefighters Association. This is the second year this national recognition for fallen Firefighters has occurred at churches and synagogues on the same weekend as the national Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

At St. Mary of the Assumption fallen firefighters were honored at all the weekend Masses. The coordinator of the event for St. Mary of the Assumption, James Trexler, ensured that at the 5:30pm Mass on Saturday, and at the 7:30am, 9:30am, and 11:30am Masses on Sunday, a moment of silence was observed followed by the tolling of the church’s bell. Trexler also helped to create an altar display that helped to bring awareness and focus to the congregation. At the 11:30 am Mass Trexler was joined by Hal Rich, career firefighter for Prince George’s County Fire/EMS, and by former Volunteer Chief and President of the Marlboro Fire Department, Donald Strine. Rich and Strine participated in this Mass by presenting the gifts at the altar, while Trexler rang the memorial bell at the conclusion of the Mass.

Trexler hopes that in participating in Bells Across America there will be a broader consciousness of the sacrifices made by firefighters. After his son became a career firefighter for Prince George’s County Fire/EMS in 2010 Trexler, himself a forty-four year employee of Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department and County Government, became even more sensitive to these sacrifices. Trexler hopes that in the coming years that Bells Across America not only continues at St. Mary of the Assumption, but is observed by even more churches in the area.

Trexler also helped to create an altar display that helped to bring awareness and focus to the congregation.