Aug 29, 2008 5:46 pm US/Eastern
Fallen Firefighters Honored On First Anniversary
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
The two Boston firefighters killed in the line of duty last year were remembered Friday in a ceremony to mark the first anniversary.
Firefighters Paul Cahill and Warren Payne died
Aug. 29, 2007 in a fire and explosion sparked by kitchen grease at the Tai Ho Chinese restaurant in West Roxbury.
Keeping with a tradition of remembering fallen firefighters, plaques honoring Cahill and Payne were unveiled at the Centre Street firehouse at 1 p.m.
Originally, firefighters wanted a cookout to thank residents for their support over the year.
When word reached headquarters Tuesday, the firehouse was ordered to call it off because superiors felt it was inappropriate to hold a cookout on the anniversary. Firefighters were told they could re-schedule it for another day.
But, a local BBQ company decided to hold a cookout in a bank parking lot next door to the firehouse. "I figured I'm a private citizen," said Fred Dietzel of Tex's BBQ Express. "(Cahill) is a friend of mine as well as the rest of the people in the neighborhood, since they were so good to these guys, that's why we're here."
Dietzel says he is donating his time because he grew up with Cahill.
The final tribute of the day will be held at 9:06 p.m. - the time when the fire was called in.
Every firehouse in the city will move their fire trucks outside and an announcement will be made over the citywide radio system, followed by a moment of silence for Cahill and Payne.
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