Fallen firefighters honored for service
CONNELLSVILLE – The last fire bell was sounded for 30 firefighters as their comrades joined Sunday to pay tribute to their bravery, dedication and unselfish service to their community. The memorial service at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church drew dozens of members of the Fayette County Firemen’s Association, along with family and friends to honor those who died over the past year.
“We are reminded again on this occasion of the swiftly passing of time and the uncertainty of life,” said Roye P. Leckemby, association chaplain. “The alarm that calls men to their last earthly duty has been sounded for many of our fellow members and this afternoon we gather to pay them tribute.
“We speak of them with tender hearts and bowed heads, conscious of their valiant deeds, faithful service and devotion to duty. To those who have gone before, we consecrate ourselves anew to perpetuating the ideals for which those men stood.”
The service was the first event of the associations’ weeklong convention being hosted by the New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co.
With the altar display of a firefighter’s jacket and bunker gear, New Haven’s Honor Guard brought forward the ceremonial axe and trumpet as the company bagpipe band offered an Irish musical selection.
As a bell tolled, association officers placed a carnation upon a cross to recognize the 30 men.
The fallen members of local fire departments included Charles Briercheck and Harry Furlong from the Hiller VFD; Albert P. Kezmarsky, David W. Wallace and Stanley E. Skoric of the West Leisenring VFD; Floyd B. Hayden Jr. and Donald M. Sarver of the Markleysburg VFD; Alfred E. Veatch Jr., a member of the Brownsville No. 1 VFD; Walter E. Mickey Jr., Francis E. Water and Robert D. Long of the South Connellsville VFD; Stephen E. Lamance, a member of the North Union VFD; Vincent Todaro, a member of the Newell VFD; Walter L. Fabbri and Harry N. Townsend of the Masontown VFD; John J. Ducar and Joseph H. Brooks of the Allison No. 2 VFD and Harold Hamrick and Ira C. Drewer Jr. of the Point Marion VFD.
Also among them was Michael Gustovich, a member of the Isabella VFD; William J. McDonough Sr., a member of the Collier VFD; Louis DeVince, a member of the Footedale VFD; Cletus McConville, a member of the Grindstone VFD; Charles A. Shallenberger and Robert F. Little of DL&V; Felix T. Rosky, a member of the Edenborn VFD; Harry A Fornili Jr., a member of the Keystone Fire Co.; Raymond N. Gravosky Sr., a member of the Connellsville Township VFD; Donald Ray Keffer, a member of the Dawson VFD and Donald S. Mitchell, a member of the Ohiopyle/Stewart VFD.
“Firefighting is an important business,” said the Rev. Marvin Watson, who is the pastor of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church and the Pennsville United Methodist Church.
“It is wonderful to think back about the past. It is well for us to build upon the foundations of those who have been faithful in pursuing the higher things in life, including the rescuing of the perishing.”
Leckemby said that the fallen firefighters would live on in the memories of their family, friends and their fellow firefighters.
“There is little we can do or say here today that will be remembered for long, but the memories of our departed brothers, the things they did for their fellow men, will live on through this and coming generations,” Leckemby said. “Time will not efface their contributions to humanity.”
Also taking part in the ceremony were the Rev. Mark Juengel, pastor of the Connellsville Presbyterian Church; the St. John’s choir; organist Christopher Mickey; soloist Amy Labuta; and Andy Giles.