INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Ten Indiana firefighters who died in the line of duty had their names added to the Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial during a ceremony Thursday evening in downtown Indianapolis.
Tony Murray, president of the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana, said the names were added to honor their sacrifice, pay respect to their families and ensure their memory lives on.
“Public safety is inherently dangerous, and it takes a certain level of courage for men and women to sign up for service,” Murray said. “And it’s the least that we can do to honor them if they do make the ultimate sacrifice and that’s what we’re doing here this evening.”
Firefighters, family members and the public attended the 2026 Fallen Firefighters Annual Remembrance Ceremony.
Eight of the 10 honored firefighters died in 2025, including James D. Mastison of the Evansville Fire Department, who died from occupational cancer.
“He was a lot to us, everything, just a lot,” said his son, David Mastison, who is also a firefighter. “Dad was a friend to everybody. He was great. He did anything for anybody. To see his name on the wall so people can come and see it, it’s awesome. He’d be really excited about it and say that he really probably didn’t deserve it, but he does.”
The other firefighters whose names were added were Lucas Gehlhausen, Chad R. Butts, Scotty Lee Adams, John Robinson, Roy A. Smith, Donald E. Caylor, Adam J. Kuspa, Kenneth Caldwell and Franklin Hardesty.
