Originally published by Gerald G. Mishoe August 10, 2017 
In June of 2008, on the first anniversary of the Charleston 9 tragedy, the families of the fallen gathered with firefighters, family members, and many people in the Charleston community to pay our respect to them as we observed the first memorial service. As part of the observance, our Team hosted a picnic for the Charleston 9 families at Mepkin Abbey, the monastery on the Cooper River in Berkeley County. In addition to a meal on the grounds, and music by an ensemble from the Charleston Symphony, we provided golf carts to give the families a tour of the Abbey with its’ beautiful grounds. The monks at the Abbey presented the families with a memory garden consisting of nine trees planted in a huge circle with a large granite stone placed at each tree with each of the names of the 9 engraved on one of the stones.
The thought, then and now, is that those of you who wish to visit the Abbey can stroll in the garden and sit in memory of our guys. It was a day to remember and became a sign of hope for the future. If you are ever near Mepkin Abbey, please stop by and visit the garden. It is quite an experience to behold.
This past weekend those memories came back to me when I was contacted by the mother of Ruben Charity, the son of Melvin Champaign, who now lives in the State of Washington. Ruben is now thirteen years old, and since he was a little guy when his Daddy died, his Mom had brought him to Charleston to visit and to learn about his father who he didn’t remember because of his young age at the time of his father’s death. He and his Mom had traveled to Monck Corner in search of the memory garden and, not remembering exactly where it was, his Mom stopped at the Moncks Corner Rural Fire Department to seek directions. Thanks to Chief Scott Lee, he contacted me and then personally took them out to the Abbey to visit. Afterwards, we made plans for me to get to see them while they were here.
When we met this past Sunday, Mom reminded me that at the picnic back in 2008, Ruben, just three years old at the time, was fretful and could not be comforted. She reminded me that I took him up and walked him around and that he settled down and would only let me hold him. Well, I can’t tell you the feeling after embracing this young man again this weekend. We were able to give him a framed photo of his Dad to take home. He will come back next summer when he and I have planned to let Mom go shopping while he and I will visit the firehouses where his Daddy worked and will visit some of the guys who knew and worked with his Dad.
So, I guess I’ve said a whole lot about this just to get to the final thought. Regardless of the tragedy of losing nine good men on June 18, 2007, with all the sadness that came with it, times like this are when we remember our commitment to never let these men be forgotten. Thank you, Ruben, and thanks to Mom, for reminding me of the important things in our lives. I look forward to next summer when I see you again.
Gerald