Memorial held for victims in Mann Gulch fire at Conrad Cemetery
John Thol, center, brother of smokejumper Henry J. Thol Jr., holds a bouquet of flowers presented to family members during a pair of graveside memorial tributes for Henry J. Thol Jr. and William J. Hellman at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell on Thursday, Aug. 8. Thol and Hellman were two of thirteen firefighters who perished in the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Dawn Underwood adheres the military identification tag of William J. Hellman to his gravestone during a pair of graveside memorial tributes for Hellman and Henry J. Thol Jr. at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell on Thursday, Aug. 8. Thol and Hellman were two of thirteen firefighters who perished in the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Eric Shelton, a former smokejumper and member of the National Smokejumper Association, presents a bouquet of flowers to the family of William J. Hellman during a pair of graveside memorial tributes for Hellman and Henry J. Thol Jr. at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell on Thursday, Aug. 8. Thol and Hellman were two of thirteen firefighters who perished in the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Members of the United Veterans of Flathead Valley Honor Guard present colors during a pair of graveside memorial tributes for Henry J. Thol Jr. and William J. Hellman at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell on Thursday, Aug. 8. Thol and Hellman were two of thirteen firefighters who perished in the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The gravestone of Henry J. Thol Jr. during a pair of graveside memorial tributes for Henry J. Thol Jr. and William J. Hellman at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell on Thursday, Aug. 8. Thol and Hellman were two of thirteen firefighters who perished in the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Members of the United Veterans of Flathead Valley Honor Guard present colors during a pair of graveside memorial tributes for Henry J. Thol Jr. and William J. Hellman at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell on Thursday, Aug. 8. Thol and Hellman were two of thirteen firefighters who perished in the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A memorial was held Thursday for two Kalispell natives who died in the 1949 Mann Gulch fire as part of commemorations surrounding the 75-year anniversary of the tragic blaze.
Dozens gathered in C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery on Aug. 8 to commemorate Henry Thol Jr. and William Hellman, two smokejumpers who died in the fire. The U.S. Forest Service and National Smokejumper Association organized the services.
Before the event, medallions were installed on each gravestone in honor of the men’s service. Two parachutes formerly used by smokejumpers were hung up in nearby trees.
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