The mood in Whitesville on the Boone County-Raleigh County line was very somber on Saturday, June 16.
Floyd E. "RED" Martin, 92, of the Whitesville Coal Camp, was laid to rest after a service at the Whitesville Volunteer Fire Department.
"Red" was a World War II veteran, and helped found the Whitesville Fire Department along with the late Chief Junior Stump, the late Jack Burnette & the late Dan Branham.
He restored a 1925 A Model Fire Engine, that was donated to the fire department by the Dorothy Coal Company. The truck dubbed "Old Red" went to countless parades across West Virginia and was emblazoned with the gold decals "1920 - 2012" this weekend. Red's casket was loaded onto "Old Red" for his final ride in a procession to the Pineview Cemetery at Orgas.
The ladder trucks from Whitesville & Racine Fire Departments were at the town limits with a huge American Flag for Red to pass under as he left Whitesville for the final time. The Madison VFW was present at the graveside & Red received a 21 gun salute, taps was played & the flag that covered his red casket was given to his family.
Red then received his "last call", considered the "ultimate good-bye for a firefighter" from the Whitesville Fire Department. The firefighters pagers were all activated to say good-bye to Red, "thanking & saluting him for his dedication, loyalty & most of all, his friendship." The broadcast included the loving statement, "Red, you have left a hole in the Whitesville Fire Department that can never be filled."
After the last call the siren sounded on "Ol Red" and the chrome bell was rang 3 times, as the final farewell to a beloved citizen.
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