A fallen junior firefighter is being remembered in a very special way.
The Asbury Volunteer Fire Department is dedicating a brand new truck to Alethea Nixon.
July 26, 2006 is a day most in Asbury would like to forget, but for one man it's a day he can't recall.
"I remember going to bed the night before, and then waking up in the hospital's the next thing I remember," said Chris Graves, who was in the accident.
A pumper truck flipped over a bridge on Martling Road and crashed 40 feet below killing 17-year-old Alethea Nixon.
"Me and her were real close friends. And it's not ever a day go by that I don't think about her," volunteer firefighter Casey Orr said.
To make sure she's never forgotten, the fire department is dedicating their new much-needed truck to Alethea.
They got it through almost $200,000 in grants.
Until now, their newest truck was a 1980s model.
They say Alethea would be proud.
"This is the nicest thing we've ever had. So you know to have this and to dedicate it to her to where her memory will last on, it's just all better," Orr said.
"Everybody just loved her so. She was just such a sweet kid. And seems like this is the least we can do. It's been 11 months since the accident. And this truck replaced the one that she was riding in. So you know there's connections with the truck with us. And we'd just like to do something to keep her memory alive," Chief Albert Childress said.
Besides the truck a memorial has been constructed at the department.
Her assigned number, 17, will also be retired.
The dedication ceremony was held at the Asbury Volunteer Fire Department.
Chief Childress invited the entire community.
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