It was a day of honor for Naperville’s fallen firefighters Thursday morning as members of city’s fire department stopped by Firemen’s Memorial Park along Jefferson Street to remember those lost in the line of duty.
“The truth of it is, we remember every single day that we come to work,” said Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis. “We remember what they did and the sacrifices they and their families made for this community.”
Lives lost in the line of duty
The Fallen Firefighter Memorial, which includes prayers, reflection, and the playing of taps, is an annual tradition for fire departments around the country. Locally, the community remembers six who have lost their lives as a result of the job:
- Engineer Jerry Herring
- Lieutenant Richard Rechenmacher
- Firefighter Bernard Petrowski
- Lieutenant George Winckler
- Captain Fred Heinke
- Division Chief Douglas Erwin
“If we don’t continue the traditions of honoring those members, I think we lose value as a fire department, we lose value as a city,” said Philip Giannattasio, Deputy Chief for the Naperville Fire Department. “It’s really important that their names and their memories live on.”
Family members of the fallen joined in the presentation of a wreath honoring their loved ones…