Family, friends and firefighters gathered to start the ceremony on Fountain Square, then marched to the fire memorial statue at Sixth Street and Central Avenue.
"This is a celebration of these brave men and women who dared call themselves firefighters," said newly appointed Cincinnati Fire Chief Robert Wright.
Added Cincinnati City Manager John Shirey: "While we're saddened by those who have passed on this past year, we're really here to keep alive their memories."
Thirty-eight firefighters - all but two of them retired - died in the last year and were honored during a "last roll call." Among them were firefighters from Cincinnati, Covington, Forest Park, Mason-Deerfield, Reading and Lexington.
There was also talk of an August rescue that left four Cincinnati firefighters injured. Four-year-old Genine Gray was pulled from a burning North Fairmount apartment. One of the four injured - Lt. Jerrold Ware - was trapped during a flashover and fell four floors. Genine was unharmed.
Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls presented a key to the city to the more than 50 firefighters who responded to the North Fairmount fire.
"It's a privilege for me to be a Cincinnati firefighter (and) to work for the city of Cincinnati, said Fire Apparatus Operator Terry Schorsch as he accepted the key. He pulled Genine from the apartment. She accompanied him to the podium.
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FIREMAN'S HEROISM IN CHARACTER Cliff Radel column, Sept. 5, 1997
OWNERS FACE CHARGES IN FIRE Sept. 3, 1997
RESCUED GIRL, MOM PRAY FOR FIREFIGHTER Sept. 2, 1997
BURNED RESCUER ASKS FATE OF LITTLE GIRL Sept. 1, 1997
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SIXTH SENSE WARNED OF DANGER Sept. 1, 1997
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