Eric Schmitt: “I rise today to honor Captain Ray Elder of Kansas City, MO, for his dedication to recognizing and honoring all fallen…”

“I rise today to honor Captain Ray Elder of Kansas City, MO, for his dedication to recognizing and honoring all fallen KCPD firefighters on the city's firefighter memorial. Captain Ray Elder served with the Kansas City Fire Department for 35 years, including 16 years as a captain. Once Ray retired, he became the official historian for the Kansas City Fire Historical Society. His 23 books on the department's history start with the first volunteer bucket brigades in 1858. His core mission is to register the deaths of all firefighters who died in the line of duty and ensure they are honored on the city's State memorial to fallen firefighters. Once Ray discovers a forgotten firefighter, their name is laser-cut into the tall metal panels at the Firefighters Fountain and Memorial in Penn Valley Park. Currently, 119 firefighters' names are honored, with Captain Ray Elder being responsible for over a dozen of them. Because of his hard work and dedication to the city's forgotten servicemembers, Ray has been awarded the Lifetime Contribution Award. Captain Ray Elder is truly a Champion of Missouri. His dedication to honoring fallen firefighters reflects his unwavering sense of duty and commitment to his community. I commend Captain Elder for his service to his fellow Missourians and wish him all the best in his noble mission.”