Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
LeTourneau Memorial Scholarship presented to DCCC students
DREXEL HILL >> The Delaware County Community College Educational Foundation Dinner held Tuesday at The Drexelbrook included a special memorial event in honor of fallen firefighter Matthew LeTourneau, a graduate who impacted countless others.
Delaware County Community College (DCCC) student Bethany DeLoach, a Philadelphia Fire Department EMT who is in the college’s paramedic program, shared her story as a single mother of two small daughters and a self-described recovering addict. She is one of the first recipients of the Captain Matthew LeTourneau Memorial Scholarship, created in honor of the fallen Philadelphia firefighter.
When DeLoach became sober through a 12-step program in 2014, she applied for an EMT position with the Philadelphia Fire Department. When she saw the application asks about drug abuse, her friend en-
couraged her to be honest, open-minded and willing. She said she received a chance to start over when offered the job.
“College is challenging, but I enjoy learning,” DeLoach said. She added that she learned to have faith in herself and to work hard through the difficulties.
She applied for the scholarship, which marked the first Philadelphia line of duty death during her career. She saw thousands of first-responders pay their respects at the funeral. A Philadelphia firefighter since 2007, LeTourneau was promoted to lieutenant in 2015 and promoted to captain posthumously.
“There was so much love and support for a fallen hero,” DeLoach said.
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said it is suiting that a sister in the Philadelphia Fire Department received a scholarship. Additionally, Michael Boyle, who serves with Collingdale Fire Company No. 1 received a memorial scholarship named after LeTourneau.
Thiel first met LeTourneau at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center when LeTourneau participated in life-saving research conducted by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
“He was there to help and he was there to learn,” said Thiel, adding that the research is being shared nationwide.
Thiel said firefighters display courage by entering burning buildings to rescue people and extinguish fires because “it’s what we do.” He noticed another type of courage displayed by the LeTourneau family when he met them that tragic day at Temple Hospital, and his family expressed concern for Matt’s brother and sister firefighters.
“From that minute, we saw their fortitude,” Thiel said. “We are humbled by the fact that they were worried about us.”
Luke LeTourneau, Captain LeTourneau’s brother, accepted the college’s Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni award given to Matthew on behalf of the LeTourneau family. Luke thanked the college for recognizing Matthew’s contributions to the college, the community and his impact on countless others. Matthew graduated in 1995 from DCCC.
“My brother had a passion for firefighting that was unrivaled,” Luke LeTourneau said. “He was always on a journey to learn and teach, take opportunities to gain knowledge or even talk shop with whoever would listen.”
He said that Matthew always trained, and encouraged other firefighters to keep training. Matthew also served as a state instructor and as a volunteer firefighter with the Springfield Fire Company.
“He was certain that muscle memory and learning new and safer techniques made you the best firefighter,” Luke LeTourneau said. “Matt went into every shift, every call and every fire with the same passion, love and enthusiasm, as if it was his first day. He knew that he would not fail his fellow firefighters due to lack of training, and no matter what, firefighting, his family and his friends were central to his core.”
LeTourneau, of Springfield, served as a lieutenant with the Philadelphia Fire Department Engine 45/Platoon A. He died on Jan. 6 after being trapped in a structural collapse while battling a rowhome fire in North Philadelphia. Two other firefighters were injured during the collapse and a neighbor suffered an injury during the blaze. The homeowner perished in the fire.
“He lost his life trying to save another,” Luke LeTourneau said, “truly living on as a hero forever.”
The LeTourneau family created the Captain Matthew LeTourneau Memorial Foundation, carrying on Matthew’s legacy of continuing the education and advancement of firefighters, and those wishing to become instructors, passing on their knowledge, like he did.
Visit Daily Local News staff writer Ginger Rae Dunbar’s blog about journalism and volunteering as a firefighter at FirefighterGinger. blogspot.com.