HAMILTON, Ohio – The Hamilton firefighter killed last December was honored Wednesday at a ceremony at Fort Hamilton Hospital.
Patrick Wolterman fell through the floor of a burning house. Police say that fire was deliberately set.
A flag pole was dedicated outside the hospital to honor Wolterman and all of Butler County's first responders.
As the American flag was raised, so too was a flag with Wolterman's name on it.
"What began as an idea by one of our emergency department staff members to honor a single individual has become a permanent memorial to honor all of our Butler County first responders," said Jennifer Mason, Fort Hamilton EMS coordinator.
"Patrick as well as other firefighters and police officers that have died in the line of duty - they're the heroes, the people that don't return to quarters, don't go home to their families," said Hamilton Fire Lt. David Oakley.
As for the investigation into Wolterman's death, Hamilton police say they are still actively working the case and the investigation remains a top priority.
"For those of us that were there that night working with him and were on the scene and part of what happened, it never goes away," said Oakley. "It's there in the morning when we wake up. It's there when we go to bed at night."
The flag with Wolterman's name on it will now fly over Station House 25 where he worked.
