Firefighter - Capt. Chris Brown will be honored posthumously at this year’s McDonalds's St. Pat’s Parade & Celtic Festival on March 13

The 21st annual downtown Roanoke St. Pat’s parade will continue with the tradition of “honoring those that protect and serve.” When EventZone heard that Chris Brown had died in October, they just really wanted to do something to honor his memory. Chris served as a firefighter for the citizens of Roanoke City since 1994. Chris was a hero and inspired others by being such a role model.

For numerous years, Chris would come to the EventZone office and pick up all the huge canisters of “fireman’s foam”. He would take it back to Station 1 and all the guys on the C-shift would make sure that the foam ran smoothly through the hoses and machine that would disburse the foam into the foam pit that they would construct at Festival in the Park. This activity has long been “the most popular” at the annual festival and Chris was an integral part of making this happen. “He was such a nice guy, and just so ready to help us out. We are going to miss him,” said a staff member at the EventZone office.

The suggestion was made at the first St. Patrick’s Day Celebration committee meeting in November 2009 that we honor Capt. Brown posthumously as the Parade’s Grand Marshal. EventZone called Chief David Hoback and he contacted the family and they agreed, indicating that it would be an honor. Chris’s wife Stephanie and his two daughters, Caroline and Hannah, will be on the parade float along with Chris’s mother and sisters. Chris’s brother, Mark who also is a Roanoke City firefighter, a Lieutenant with Engine 5 C-Shift, will walk along the parade with fellow firemen from Chris’s station. The Brown family will be acknowledged at the judge’s stand during the parade and after the parade at the Celtic Festival. The family will be presented a plaque in honor of Chris, as he was a dedicated person that worked to “protect and serve” the citizens of Roanoke City.

Chief David Hoback said, “Chris was a leader and a mentor that many in the department looked up to. There's no finer example of a true hero, or firefighter, or captain, than Chris Brown. He was an outstanding individual and really made an impact on the organization."

Brown had worked for the fire department for more than 15 years and was captain of the department's largest station. First Lt. J.J. Price worked under Brown and said he was impressed with how Brown treated every person fairly. "Every person that came in the door, he gave them a clean slate no matter what he'd heard," Price said. Price also described how Brown had the ability to fix anything that broke on the truck or at the station.

Chris and his family dedicated their lives to the City of Roanoke. He was a second generation fire fighter. His dad, Clarence Brown, deceased, retired from the City as a firefighter, and his mom, Marquita is retired as an RN from the City Health Clinic. Chris Brown was well respected, much admired and loved by his friends, brothers and associates. He was a dedicated father and a hard worker. Chris will surely be missed by all in the Roanoke community.

Read more about Capt. Chris Brown

• Roanoke Times Article

• Roanokefire.Com Blog