Nominate a Loved One for the Wall of the Fallen

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., May 7, 2018 (Newswire.com) - The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum honors towing operators and employees who have died in the line of service in an annual ceremony at its Wall of the Fallen memorial in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Now is a good time to nominate a person – a loved one, employee or co-worker – for a nameplate on the Wall of the Fallen memorial, which is on the grounds of the towing museum. This year's Wall of the Fallen ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2018, during Museum Weekend, which takes place the same time as the Tennessee Tow Show.  Send in nominations by mid-July to allow adequate processing time.

Adding names to our Wall of the Fallen is something we wish we did not have to do, but it provides a way for the industry to remember the sacrifices of those who have left us and it's a blessing for family members who can see a permanent memorial to their loved ones.

Jeffrey Godwin, Co-Chairman, Survivor Fund / Wall of the Fallen

The first Wall of the Fallen ceremony was held in 2006. Dozens of nameplates are placed on the memorial each year, and it now contains the names of over 400 individuals whose lives were tragically struck down. The aim is to raise awareness of the dangers of the jobs in the towing and the recovery industry. About 60 towing-related deaths occur each year in the United States, an unfathomably high number compared with workplace fatalities among other first responders as well as other industries.

The Wall of the Fallen ceremony is an emotionally moving event for families and co-workers, providing public recognition of towing operators and employees whose lives were cut short. Many attendees wear tee-shirts or carry balloons with the nominee's name and sometimes a message.

“Adding names to our Wall of the Fallen is something we wish we did not have to do, but it provides a way for the industry to remember the sacrifices of those who have left us and it's a blessing for family members who can see a permanent memorial to their loved ones,” said Jeffrey Godwin, co-chairman of the Survivor Fund / Wall of the Fallen Committee. 

To be eligible the deceased must have been working as an operator or employee in any capacity at a towing, repossession or road service company. Qualifying circumstances include, among other criteria, death during the act of:

• loading/unloading a motor vehicle
• transporting a motor vehicle
• recovery of a vehicle
• driving en route to or from a towing call
• performing work duties at a company office

A homicidal death at the hands of a customer, robber or passerby also qualifies. However, certain exclusions apply, such as a death as a result of gross negligence, driving under the influence, road rage and death from natural causes, among others.

Visit towingmuseum.com and click "Wall of the Fallen" for more details such as documentation and other information required. Send in nominations by mid-July to allow adequate processing time.

Contact Jeffrey Godwin, co-chair of the Survivor Fund / Wall of the Fallen committee, at [email protected].

The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga showcases the history of towing and recovery. The rotating collection includes early equipment by Manley, Holmes, Vulcan, and Weaver. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have significantly advanced the industry. The museum includes a theater, a library and a gift shop with towing-related souvenirs. The Wall of the Fallen memorial, on the museum grounds, is dedicated to towers who died in the line of service. ITRHFM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and accepts donations for its programs and operations from individuals, corporations, and groups.

Source: International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum