Hundreds Came to Honor a Fallen DC Firefighter

May 25, 2001
 Yesterday  would have been John Williams 53rd birthday. He would have been home with his family and friends opening up his gifts and celebrating another year of life, but on December 19, 1984, Firefighter John T. Williams gave the supreme sacrifice to the citizens of the District of Columbia. He was killed while operating on Box Alarm 144, a second alarm fire at 1401 H ST. NW. 
Williams was assigned to Rescue Squad 1, he was conducting a search of the second floor when he fell through a cover-up hole from the second floor to the basement and died from the fall. 
 Yesterday hundreds of DC Firefighters, loved ones and civilians attended a ceremony dedicating the quarters of Engine Company 6, and Truck Company 4 located at 1300 New Jersey Ave NW the “John T. Williams Building." 
After two years of phone calls, collecting signatures attending meetings and lobbying the dreams of Angelique Williams, daughter of fallen Firefighter John T. Williams, who was only eight years old at the time of her father's death came true. 
 Thursday, May 24th she was able to honor her fathers name by memorializing the building he worked at for several years when he as assigned to Rescue Squad 1 at the time of his death. 
 Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice called Firefighter Williams a "symbol of courage and dedication" of the city's firefighters.
 In his opening statement The District of Columbia Fire/EMS Department Chief Ronnie Few stated  his main concern being Fire Chief is the safety of his firefighters, "I hope I have to never go to the home of a firefighter and tell his or her family that he or she was killed in the line of duty". 
Few also presented a plaque to Ms. Williams with her father's badge and insured her that her father will never be forgotten by the members of the department.
 In her opening statements Deputy Fire Chief Beatrice Rudder gave thanks to all the firefighters who were present and said the members of the department would never forget BIG JOHN's death. 
" I hope this can bring closure and peace to all who have been affected by his death," said Ms.Williams. " Daddy, I want you to know we love you, we did this for you." " He loved his job". If he had it to do all over again, he would make the ultimate sacrifice. 
That's the type of person he was. It was very traumatic stated Williams after the ceremony "But God is good and my heart is just full of joy"  I decided to do something for my dad, when the Forth District Police station was named after the line of duty death of Police Officer Brian T. Gibson, I thought it would be nice to name the fire house my dad worked at for several years. 
After the ceremony Chief Few, Ms. Williams, family members and friends unveiled a plaque on the front of the red brick fire house honoring Fallen Firefighter John T. Williams. 
Ms. Williams also wishes to thank all the members of Engine Company 6, Truck Company 4, Deputy Fire Chief William FitzGerald, Captain Al Jeffery, members of Rescue Squad 1, Engine Company 22, Truck Company 11, former Chief Alvin Carter, members of her fathers crew who were in attendance and many others for making today a day she will never forget. 
This is the first time in department history that a fire house has been named after a Fallen Firefighter, 
Next week, May 30th will make the second anniversary of the death of Firefighters Tony Phillps of Engine Company 10 and Louis Matthews of Engine Company 26, both were killed in the line of duty at a fire in the Northeast section of the city. 

Click here for photos of the Ceremony