Montana Firefighters Memorial Fun Run and Street Dance is 6/13

If you're looking for something fun to do next weekend, come on out to Laurel for the Montana Firefighters Memorial Fun Run and Street Dance. The Memorial was launched in 2003, when House Bill 353 passed the legislature and was signed by then-Governor Judy Martz, establishing Laurel as the site of the Montana State Firefighters Memorial.

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The memorial honors all the men and women who have lost their lives fighting fires in Montana. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in June of 2004, and phase 1 of the project was completed in 2016. Phase 3 was completed in 2018, and the nonprofit hopes to complete the remaining stages of the project as funds are raised.

Three firefighters perished on duty last year in Montana.

This year, three additional names will be engraved on the somber granite markers, honoring those who perished on duty in 2024. Those include:

• David Lambers, Montana Air National Guard Firefighter, Great Falls, MT
• John Raisler, Wild Land Firefighter, Miles City (1983 Laurel Grad)
• Juliana Turchetti, Aerial Firefighting Pilot, Kansas/Argentina

The ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 14th, at the Memorial, located on the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department fire station grounds.

Join the fun on Friday, June 13th, in Laurel.

While the Memorial is rightfully a somber place, the group is putting the "fun" in fundraising Friday evening, with several great events.

• 5 PM - Kids Hot Pants Dash, sponsored by Molly & Friends
• 6 PM - 5K Run begins
• 6:15 PM - One-mile walk or fun run begins
• 7 PM - The Block Party kicks off with a Fireman Hose Challenge
• 7:30 PM - Montana legends, The Max Band, will get the party started.

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Attendees can enjoy tasty food from Carlton Depot, La Taqueria, and Heart & Seoul, and adult beverages courtesy of The Gebo Saloon in Fromberg.