At the first Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 2004, a red draped altar with firefighting helmets representing recent firefighter line of duty deaths stood prominently as a major focal point to the ceremony. At the front left corner of the altar Captain Doug Greek, from the Lunenburg and District Fire Department, in dress uniform with red sash and bearing a historic fire service speaking trumpet stood proud as a silent sentry.
Doug Greek, born June 10, 1935, joined the Lunenburg Fire Department on April 10, 1957. He retired, with the rank of Captain, on April 30, 2002. During his forty-five years of volunteer firefighting service Doug worked at his full time job as a high pressure pipe welder for the Lunenburg Foundry; B.C. Babcock Fisheries in Prince Rupert, British Columbia; Halifax Ship Yards and Canxel Corporation in East River, Nova Scotia.
Doug joined Sea Cadets in 1947, when he was 12. In 1954 he achieved the rank of Midshipman.
Doug was aboard HMCS Granby in Quebec on Coronation Day in 1953. In 1954 he was aboard HMCS Micmac in London, England.
Before joining the fire service Doug served, from 1961 to 1964, with the West Nova Scotia Regiment, a primary reserve infantry regiment with the Canadian Army.
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| In this photograph taken at the memorial dedication ceremony in 2012 you can see Doug's medals: 20 Year Provincial, 20 year Federal, Lunenburg and Navy League of Canada. |
Doug married Peggy Tanner on May 26, 1961. She has taken an active interest in Doug’s participation with the Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony. He has lived with three retrievers over the years. He has held many positions with Central United Church including membership on the Board of Stewards.
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| Doug relaxing. |
In 1988 Doug began using the speaking trumpet ceremonially. In the fire service officers directing fire scene operations used speaking trumpets as a means for amplifying their orders directing the firefighters on the scene. The Lunenburg Fire Department had purchased the trumpet in 1877.
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| Lunenburg Fire Departments's first Captain E. L. Nash holding the trumpet soon after its purchase in 1877. |
The trumpet had been made just a few streets from the Twin Towers one-hundred-and-twenty-four years earlier to the day.
In 2004 then Lunenburg Fire Chief Donald Parks asked Doug to take the trumpet to Ottawa for the first memorial ceremony. Doug attended that ceremony standing as silent sentry with the trumpet, which he continued doing at his own expense through 2013. Occasionally, his wife, Peggy, accompanied him. Ceremony organizers always looked forward to seeing Doug attending the ceremony and very much appreciated his ongoing participation.
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| Doug in the foyer of the Peace Tower, Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa. |
Doug has retired from participating in the ceremony after supporting
it with such dedication for a very long duration. Thank you very much for your
contribution, Doug. You have represented the Canadian Fire Service very well.
