BRIDGEWATER — A former volunteer firefighter who was as "strong as an ox" will be remembered at a ceremony today at Oakdale Park in Bridgewater. Eddie Caracofe, who died fighting a blaze at Jess’ Quick Lunch in Harrisonburg 27 years ago, will be honored at Bridgewater’s Memorial Garden at 2 p.m. in recognition of his efforts. The garden will include plaques honoring other police officers and firefighters who have lost their lives giving back to the community. Caracofe’s plaque will join one already in place for Wayne Stoutamyer, a Bridgewater police officer who was killed outside his home in 1976.

Bob Michael, who will speak at today’s ceremony, remembers Caracofe as a positive personality who always brought a smile to those around him. "He was a happy-go-lucky kind of person all the time," he said. "He would do anything for you." Michael, a lifelong member of the Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department, remembers Caracofe as an instant energy boost. "He was full of energy," he said. "He was like a morale booster. If you were down about something, and you talked to him for a few minutes, you were good to go." Caracofe’s physical strength is legend among his colleagues. Michael recalls a time when the two of them responded to a fire and he attempted to help Caracofe unload a heavy water pump. "Eddie just yelled, ‘You just pick up the hose, I’ll do the rest!’ He was so strong that he carried the pump all the way to the fire," Michael said.

On June 21, 1979, Caracofe was killed while responding to a fire at Jess’ Quick Lunch. John Humes, who was Bridgewater fire chief at the time, said he remembered Caracofe making every effort to put the fire out. "He parked his car where the courthouse is now," Humes said. "And I just remember him running as fast as he could toward that fire." Todd Glendye, the current chief of the Bridgewater department, said Caracofe had to be pulled out of the building by other firefighters. "I don’t think anyone ever found out the official cause of death," he said. Michael said that Caracofe’s life was lost doing what he loved. "Once you’re a firefighter, that never goes away," he said. "It’s something that’s in your blood." Although Caracofe’s son, Chris, was only 2 years old when his father died, he always knew he would follow in his footsteps. "I wanted to keep the tradition going," he said. "It’s something I’ve wanted to do from day one." Chris, 29, started with Bridgewater’s volunteer fire company at 16 and has stuck with it ever since. He is now a volunteer firefighter in Mount Solon. "All I know is what I hear," he said. "And it sounds like my dad was a great guy."

Contact Dan Kipperman at 574-6274 or dkipp@dnronline.com

Dan Kipperman. "Fallen Fireman To Be Honored" Daily News-Record. October 28, 2006: C1, C2.

BRIDGEWATER — Family and friends of the late Edward "Eddie" Caracofe gathered around the Oakdale Park Memorial Garden in Bridgewater on Saturday to remember the fallen firefighter. Caracofe, a member of the Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department, was killed in a fire at Jess’ Quick Lunch in downtown Harrisonburg in 1979.

"Eddie died doing what all firefighters love doing: helping others," Bob Michael, a Clover Hill firefighter, said at the memorial service, which was attended by more than 100 area fire, police and rescue squad officials. Michael, who worked with Caracofe when both were with the Bridgewater Fire Department, called Caracofe a "fallen hero."

"Every Time we go out, there’s a chance of getting killed but we still do it," said Capt. Carroll Smith of the Richmond Fire Department, who pulled Caracofe’s body from the fire. Smith was visiting family in Bridgewater when the fire broke out. "It’s important that people know what these guys sacrificed," he added.

Members of the fire department and Caracofe’s family are pleased that a memorial has been constructed and dedicated, even after almost 30 years. "It was something we needed to do that should have been done a long time ago," said Bridgewater Fire Chief Todd Glendye, who worked with Caracofe’s family to organize the service. "I’m glad to see it done now."

Two fire engines, one a modern Bridgewater truck and the other a Harrisonburg truck used to fight the fire at Jess’, extended their ladders in an arch that hung the American flag over the congregation at the flower garden. To the side of the garden stood the green engine that carried Caracofe to the fire that day. "Eddie was part of that truck that day," said Michael in his comments.

The service included an invocation and benediction by Councilman Roscoe Burgess, speeches by Michael and Bridgewater Mayor Hallie Dinkel and presentations by the Rockingham County Fire-Rescue Squad. Those present also heard the National Anthem and bagpipe performance of "Amazing Grace."

The garden was dedicated in September for Bridgewater’s fallen public servants to "remind [people] of their dedication and love of their community," said Dinkel. Caracofe is one of two Bridgewater public safety officials honored at the garden. The other, Police Officer Wayne Stoutamyer, who was shot and killed in the early 1970’s, was honored in a ceremony at the garden earlier this year.

Memorial plaques will be posted near ornamental trees in the garden to commemorate the lives of Caracofe the lives of Caracofe and Stoutamyer, said John Humes, who was Bridgewater fire chief when Caracofe died. Humes, who now serves as chief engineer, presented an American flag from the honor guard to Caracofe’s widow Carlene Counts, and sons Chris and Charlie.

Caracofe’s family was pleased with the ceremony. "We appreciate all the hard work done to put it together," said Chris Caracofe, who joined the Mount Solon Fire Department at the age of 16. "We thought it was excellent."

Contact Rebecca Martinez at 574-6200

Rebecca Martinez. "Friends, Family Honor a Hero" Daily News-Record. October 30, 2006: B1, B2.