News-Info-Alerts

Re: Speicher Documentary - Friends & Firemen

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: April 23, 2003

"Jacksonville Firefighters Featured On Discovery Channel

HEATHER CASPI Firehouse.Com News

Jacksonville, Florida firefighters will be featured in a Discovery Channel documentary because of their efforts to raise awareness of a U.S. Navy pilot who has been Missing In Action in Iraq for over 12 years.

The documentary tells the story of Jacksonville resident Michael Scott Speicher, who was declared dead in 1991 after his plane was shot down on the first night of the Gulf War, but who was re-classified as a Prisoner of War in 2002 after Pentagon officials concluded that he ejected from his F/A-18 strike fighter and was most likely captured alive.

The Jacksonville Association of Firefighters and Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department have participated in efforts to publicize Speicher's plight and to press U.S. government officials to keep working until they bring Speicher home or obtain evidence of his death.

Local union spokesman Mark Treglio said firefighters got involved after he ran into the web site for "Friends Working To Free Scott Speicher" and spoke to Speicher's friends about their efforts.

"They weren't getting any help so we stepped in," Treglio said.

The firefighters held a ceremony on January 17th to mark the 12th anniversary of Speicher's disappearance, and they now bring officials from his organization with them every time they attend or host an event.

The firefighters also raised a banner stating their support for Speicher on an old training tower that overlooks Interstate 10, where it is seen daily by 120,000 drivers coming to and from downtown Jacksonville, and they placed another banner at one of Jacksonville’s busiest intersections at Interstate 295 and Blanding Blvd. The firefighters also put bumper stickers on all of the department's 175 units.

"From there it took off," Treglio said. "That's how we got the Discovery Channel's attention."

Jim Stafford, a high-school friend of Speicher's and a member of the Free Scott organization, said the involvement of the Jacksonville Firefighters has been a godsend by helping to raise money and awareness. "When they came on board they opened all the doors for us," Stafford said.

"Because of their efforts our job has been made real easy," he said. "They are our biggest supporter without a doubt."

The Jacksonville Firefighters have pledged to support the Friends Working to Free Scott Speicher organization until Captain Speicher comes home.

"They've been a blessing to us at every turn," Stafford said. "We definitely want them to be a big part of the ceremony if we get Scott back."

The Discovery Channel documentary will air Wednesday, April 23rd at 10 p.m. and on Thursday, April 24th at 1 a.m.

Related:

Friends Working To Free Scott Speicher
http://www.freescottspeicher.com/

The Jacksonville Association of Firefighters
http://www.jfrd.com/index2.htm"