A plaque honoring the sacrifice of Washington firefighter Edward Peed was unveiled at Beebe Memorial Park on Saturday, part of the annual Edward Peed Day observance.

Peed is believed to be the first Washington firefighter who died in the line of duty.

“What we’re going to unveil out here is the walking-trail marker that was put up through the efforts of the Human Relations Council and the Washington Fire Department Auxiliary,” fire Chief Robbie Rose said at the unveiling ceremony. “We look at this as a legacy we can leave behind for future generations that can now come out and see the Ed Peed marker, which is partially located at his original burial site. We have the history of Ed Peed on this walking-trail marker.”

The two groups raised money for the marker.

Rose said the next step in the Ed Peed story is to get the state to place a historical marker telling his story somewhere on a major highway in Washington. That remark drew applause from those who attended the unveiling ceremony, which followed a memorial service and luncheon at the city’s headquarters fire station.

Allen Hughes, chairman of the Human Relations Council, said, “It’s been said that heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things during emergency situations when people’s lives are in danger. Ed Peed was an ordinary citizen who gave his life trying to protect the citizens of Washington and also the city. He was doing what we all need to be doing — working together, looking out for mankind.”

Peed was killed Feb. 8, 1902 after he responded to a fire on the downtown waterfront. He was a 20-year veteran of the all-black volunteer Salamander Fire Company. After fire was brought under control, a wall fell on Peed, killing him instantly. A memorial to Peed is located at the city’s headquarters fire station.

Washington City Council member, a volunteer firefighter, said Peed “was much like any other man in this room, but a man who just for a few more minutes took something different from his life and became a hero.”