Ken Palmer

Lansing State Journal

LANSING — Family members and former colleagues gathered at a fire station Friday to remember Lansing Firefighter Dennis Rodeman, one year after he was struck and killed by a car while collecting donations for a charity on the city's south side.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, Lansing Fire Chief Randy Talifarro and other fire department officials spoke during the solemn, 31-minute ceremony at the downtown Lansing firehouse where Rodeman was assigned. Most speakers talked about the need to heal from the tragedy.

Bernero described Rodeman as "a hero twice over" – a reference to his military service.

"We will never forget Firefighter Dennis Rodeman," he said. "A year after that tragic day, it remains beyond comprehension that this American hero lost his life on the streets of Lansing while collecting charitable contributions for children afflicted by muscular dystrophy ... But in reality, our lives were changed the day we met Dennis ... He touched us all."

Rodeman's death "brought us closer together," said retired Assistant Lansing Fire Chief Michael Hamel. "It truly defined the Lansing Fire Department."

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Officials unveiled a permanent memorial that will go on display at the Lansing Fire Museum at the station at East Shiawassee Street and Grand Avenue. The memorial is a custom-made wooden display case holding Rodeman's turnout gear and marked with his badge number – 371.

It was made by Larry Lindemann, a woodworker and former meat cutter who became close to Lansing firefighters. Lindemann, 79, said he used black walnut salvaged from the state Capitol Building during the 1970s.

Rodeman, 35, was struck by a car while collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association near the intersection of Cedar Street and Jolly Road. He later died at a hospital.

Grant Taylor, 23, has been charged with murder, attempted murder and other crimes in connection with the incident. Police and prosecutors allege he intentionally hit Rodeman with his pickup truck because he was angry about the fundraising activity slowing traffic near the intersection.

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Taylor has a history of mental illness. His trial is on hold because he was ruled incompetent to assist with his own defense earlier this year.

Rodeman survived a tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps and was a seven-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department. Thousands of people attended his funeral at Michigan State University. There was an outpouring of support for the Rodeman family, which included more than $150,000 in donations raised in the days after his death.

Several members of Rodeman's family, including his widow, Kate, and infant son, Blake, attended Friday's ceremony but did not speak. The ceremony was open to the media but not to the public at large.

Firefighters wore new uniform tops adorned with a red ribbon and black band on the back and the words "Never Forget" printed on the front.

The special shirts are being worn through the first two weeks of September in honor of Rodeman and victims of the 9/11 tragedy, said Eric Weber, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 421.

The firefighting community has become closer since the Rodeman tragedy, Weber said.

"I've never seen more hugs, heard more 'I love you's' or seen more gratitude shown to each other," he said. "It has really pulled us together."

Rodeman's name will be added to the Wall of Honor at the IAFF's Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sept. 17, Weber said. A large group of Lansing firefighters will be there for the ceremony, he said.

In a private ceremony on Friday afternoon, a group of firefighters planned to lay a wreath at the spot where Rodeman was struck and killed, said Michael Tobin, Lansing's emergency management director. That was scheduled to happen at 3:41 p.m., the time of the emergency call.

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.