Dozens of fire companies honor fallen Republic junior firefighter Friday
More than 35 agencies line-up at New Salem VFW Woods to pay their respects in the funeral procession for 16-year-old junior fire fighter Parker Hess.
Rebecca Devereaux|Herald-Standard
The funeral procession for 16-year-old Parker Hess was led down New Salem Road by Republic Volunteer Fire Company where Hess served as a Junior Volunteer firefighter.
Rebecca Devereaux|Herald-Standard
Charlie Pinkney of Smithfield with his son, Charlie, 4 watch respectfully as the funeral procession of junior firefighter Parker Hess passes along New Salem Road on Friday.
A half-mile blaze of red lights and a chorus of sirens guided a Republic junior firefighter to his final resting place as dozens of fire companies gathered to honor their fallen comrade Friday.
Parker Hess, 16, of Filbert died in what state police believe may have been an accidental shooting Nov. 27. George Matis Jr., 21, of Republic was charged with criminal homicide in the shooting but released after he was granted bond Wednesday.
Hess officially became a junior firefighter on his 16th birthday Nov. 22, just a few days before his death. Hess served with the company for two years beforehand, developing his skills in the hopes of one day becoming a New York City firefighter.
Heather Perkins, a firefighter with Republic’s closest mutual aid company, Allison No. 2, said she often talked to Hess on calls they served on together.
“He was a good kid, a hard worker,” she said, adding that he often stayed late to finish the job he started.
A second firefighter with the company, John Heikkila, said the death impacted him deeply, along with many others in neighboring departments.
“It’s hard on me, and I never actually met him once,” he said. “We always honor a fallen brother. Always.”
About 30 fire companies from as far as South Greensburg joined in the procession.
Emergency lights reflected off somber faces as a young boy saluted the cavalcade from the side of the road.
Chas Pinkney of Smithfield said he brings his 4-year-old son, Charlie Pinkney, to every nearby funeral procession honoring a public servant.
His reasoning was simple: “It’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Pinkney served in Iraq with the U.S. Army Military Police, where he was injured in an explosion. He said it is important to him that his son respects the service of those who put themselves at risk for citizens. He said they are heroes, and he wants to set a good example for his son to understand the importance of what they do.
“And he always salutes, every single time,” he said.