Posted on 08/19/2011 11:21:25 AM PDT by mylife
August 19, 2011 Funeral in Greenville today for fallen firefighter
By BRAD KELLAR CNHI
GREENVILLE — Hundreds of firefighters are expected to be in Greenville today, to pay their respects to a fallen comrade.
Hundreds more people are expected to line the route of the funeral procession for Lt. Todd Krodle of Caddo Mills. Krodle, who’d served with the Dallas Fire Department since September 1993, died Sunday afternoon while fighting an apartment complex blaze.
The cemetery itself has been adorned with special ribbons in honor of the fallen hero.
Krodle’s funeral will be conducted at Highland Terrace Baptist Church, 3939 Joe Ramsey Boulevard in Greenville at 10 a.m., with burial to follow at Memoryland Memorial Park, 808 West Jack Finney Boulevard. A reception has also been scheduled following the burial at Greenville High School, 3515 Lions Lair Road.
Coker-Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville is in charge of the services. A representative of the funeral home said the procession will leave the church and proceed east on U.S. Highway 69/380 to FM 1570/Jack Finney Boulevard, then turn right and follow FM 1570/Jack Finney onto West Jack Finney and on to the cemetery.
David Lindsey, Krodle’s cousin, tied the “Hero Ribbons”, black ribbons with a smaller red strip running down the center, Thursday to the trees at Memoryland.
“Kelli (Krodle's surviving wife) came in and said she'd found these ribbons online and wanted to get some of them for her house,” said Lindsey. “She said she wanted to put some around to remember Todd by.”
Lindsey thought it a great idea, but decided to expand on it, eventually leading to most every tree in the Memoryland Memorial Park to be adorned with the black and red ribbons.
Krodle's parents put Lindsey in touch with Luanne Dickens of Greenville Floral and Gifts, where Krodle worked for a bit while putting himself through college. She jumped on the bandwagon, donating some 4,000 yards of ribbon and even showing the guys how to properly tie them to each tree.
“I thought this would be one of those gestures that would bring a bright spot,” Lindsey said. “If I could put that smile on her face for just a few seconds, I think it would really be worth it. When she spoke of the ribbons that morning, I thought we have a chance here to make her smile a little bit and I think Todd would want that.”
In addition to donating the large ribbons to adorn the Memoryland trees, Dickens is also donating smaller versions to be worn on clothing or tied to mailboxes for those wanting to show their support to the Krodle family.
City of Greenville officials said Thursday that more than 100 engines from fire departments across the state are expected in the city this morning. The Greenville Police Department will close one eastbound lane and one westbound lane of Joe Ramsey Boulevard near Highland Terrace Baptist Church, during the funeral service, to allow fire trucks to park.
Following the funeral service, westbound FM 1570/Jack Finney Blvd., will be closed from FM 2101 near L-3 Communications to Quail Run. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will erect digital information signs along FM 1570/Jack Finney Blvd. near Traders Road and along FM 2101 advising motorists of detours. Once the graveside service concludes, all traffic will turn out of the cemetery, westbound on FM 1570/Jack Finney Blvd. Those attending the reception at Greenville High School will travel west on FM 1570/Jack Finney Blvd. to the Interstate 30 north service road, and continue east on the service road to Sayle Street, arriving at Greenville High School.
Herald-Banner reporter Amber Pompa contributed to this story.
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