West Sussex fire engines fitted with new graphics to pay tribute to fallen heroes ahead of Remembrance Day
The graphics will remain in place throughout October and November.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is honouring the county's fallen heroes this Remembrance Day with a special tribute.
Poppies and a silhouette of First World War soldiers have been applied to the locker doors on a number of the service’s fire engines to mark Armistice Day on 11 November.
The new graphics will remain in place on the appliances throughout October and November.
Fire engines based at Chichester, Crawley, Horsham and Worthing have been fitted with the images.
Chairman of West Sussex County Council, Janet Duncton, said:
"Just like the poignant Tommy silhouettes that have appeared in many of our towns and villages across the county in recent years, this is a wonderful tribute to those who gave up their lives so that we could live ours today.
"The fire and rescue service, or the fire brigade as it would have been in the early part of the 20th Century, experienced great turmoil, as many of its ranks were depleted as people went off to the front, while those who stepped up in their place had to learn exceptionally quickly in the face of war.
"I know that many of our fire crews form a key part of their communities’ Remembrance Sunday parades and services, and so I think this is a wonderful addition to our fire engines, that will remind everyone who sees them that we will remember."
Meanwhile Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, chief fire officer, said she was "so proud" when she saw the first of the fire engines return this week with its new Remembrance Day tribute:
"With Remembrance Day services being scaled back this year in the wake of COVID-19, we felt it was more appropriate than ever that we pay tribute to those family members who gave up their lives for our freedoms."