State legislators adjourn in memory of fallen firefighters

COLUMBIA — When the state Senate and House of Representatives adjourn for the day, it will be in memory of the nine Charleston firefighters who died Monday night.

“You’ve got nine firemen who went in there, very brave people, went in there to rescue the others and to make sure everybody was safe,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, who, along with Sen. Robert Ford, asked for the adjournment.

“The nine of them were heroes with a tremendous amount of courage,” McConnell, R-Charleston, said. “It’s like in the community a blanket of sadness has descended as a result of this fire and this great tragedy. Our communities were rocked by it.”

Ford, D-Charleston, asked the Senate chaplain, the Rev. James I. St. John, to offer a prayer.

“We ask you, Lord, to be with all of those in the Charleston community and the state who are impacted directly and indirectly by the loss of these brave public servants,” St. John said. “Such a tragedy cuts through every level of society.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, asked the House to adjourn in memory of the firefighters.

“It’s probably one of the worst tragedies in South Carolina’s history,” Limehouse said.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, asked the House to stand in a moment of silent prayer for the families of the firefighters.

“Our state is absent nine heroes today,” Harrell said in a prepared statement. “Time and time again these brave men risked their lives to make ours safer, and now they have paid the ultimate price for our protection. The city of Charleston has suffered a great loss, but the entire state feels this deep pain.”

The South Carolina Firefighter’s Association has requested that nine U.S. flags be sent to the firefighters’ families, Harrell said, and the South Carolina House of Representatives will be sending nine state flags that have flown over the Statehouse to the families of those lost.

The adjournment is a way that lawmakers typically honor residents.

Reach Yvonne Wenger at (803)799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com