Community remembers fallen firefighters
21st annual memorial service honors late firefighters and fire police officers
SPRINGFIELD » Members of the fire service and their relatives celebrated the lives of the late members who responded to emergency calls to help strangers.
The Delaware County Fireman’s Association and Fire Police Association cosponsored the memorial service for fallen firefighters and those who died during the last year. The 21st annual memorial service, dedicated this year to fallen firefighter Captain Matthew LeTourneau, was held Wednesday at St. Kevin Roman Catholic Church in Springfield.
LeTourneau was killed on Jan. 6 while fighting a fire in a North Philadelphia rowhome that collapsed. Two other Philadelphia firefighters were injured in the collapse. LeTourneau, 42, of Springfield, was hired with the Philadelphia Fire Department in 2007 and he was promoted to lieutenant in 2015 with the Engine 45/ Platoon A. He was promoted to the rank of captain posthumously. He also volunteered with the Springfield Fire Co. since 1991 and formerly served as a lieutenant.
Timothy Boyce, director of the Delaware County Emergency Services 911 Center, said LeTourneau was full of promise and he passionately represented the fire service community by how he helped others in need. LeTourneau also served as a state instructor at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center.
“Matt represented what was the goodness in all of our communities,” Boyce said. “Matt loved the job, Matt fought for the job, Matt argued about the job and he cared about people.”
Boyce encouraged the attendees to celebrate the lives of their loved ones who gave back to their communities.
“Tonight we remember men and women who served their community their entire lives,” Boyce said. “They quietly and humbly, not only built (and) sustained organizations, but they grew their organizations. Their lives were community-based, their lives were legacies.”
Boyce noted that there are about 1 million calls to the Delaware County 911 Center a year. He said when that call comes, the men and women present in uniform would answer the call, just as those who passed on had done.
“People call at their worst hour for a stranger to come and help them,” Boyce said. “In their darkest hour, they have the confidence that somebody will come and help them.”
Judy Kirby, chairwoman of the Delaware County Fireman’s Association executive board, and a member of the Vauclain Fire Co. in Ridley Township, read the 29 names of the firefighters who have died since the previous memorial. As the names were read, fellow firefighters and family members placed a rose and a candle in honor of their loved one who served as a firefighter or fire police.