Marietta Firefighter Funeral Wednesday: Cobb Flags At Half-Staff

MARIETTA, GA -- U.S. and Georgia flags in Cobb County are flying at half-staff Wednesday in honor of fallen Marietta firefighter Ron Herens.

The half-staff flag arrangement was ordered Monday by Gov. Nathan Deal to coincide with the funeral for Herens, who lived in Powder Springs. The Marietta fireman and EMT for Puckett Ambulance Service was killed in a car accident on April 10 in Southern California.

A celebration of life for Herens is set for Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Chapel on 4665 Macland Road in Powder Springs. A public viewing will be one hour before the funeral service, according to West Cobb Funeral Home, who is handling the service.

On Tuesday night, a visitation was held for Herens' family at the Trinity Chapel.

This past weekend, Herens' body was brought back to Georgia on Delta Airlines Flight 926. Dozens of people congregated at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Saturday morning for the occasion. Friends, family and scores of firefighters lined the roadway (pics above) as a hearse slowly pulled away, heading to West Cobb Funeral Home.

“I think that tells you everything you need to know about this community. These folks support their public safety officials here, and we know they care about what happens to these folks, and they appreciate what we have the opportunity to do,” Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs told reporters on the scene, according to the Marietta Daily Journal. “On the firefighter side of the house, we love what we do, our folks enjoy serving this community, and it’s a two-way street, and those folks standing out there demonstrate that it’s a two-way street.”

Read more: Comrades around the nation remember fallen Marietta fireman

Two other Marietta firemen -- Dillon Guest and Doug Blanchard -- were injured in the crash, which resulted in DUI charges for the driver who hit them.

Herens was also active with the Cobb County Fire Explorers group. He also received the Cares Award in 2015.

Following the funeral, Herens' body will be interred at Cheatham Hill Memorial Park.

Images via Marietta PD / Facebook