Sep 6, 2007 3:17 pm US/Eastern
Crowds Line Procession Route To Honor Firefighter
WEST ROXBURY (WBZ) ―
Some left school and work, others traveled from as far away as Canada and Ireland, all to line the streets of West Roxbury to pay their respects to a fallen firefighter many of them never knew.
Thousands of people came to the tight-knit neighborhood Thursday to pay tribute to Paul Cahill, one of two Boston firefighters killed last week in a restaurant fire.
"This is a real sad time for West Roxbury and a unique thing to see," one spectator said.
One of those in the crowd was firefighter Kenny Gibson, a colleague of Cahill's at Engine 30 Ladder 25. He was among the ten hurt in the fire that killed Cahill and Warren Payne. Gibson was the last of the ten released from the hospital.
"You can't say enough about the community and how much everyone pulls together and cares about us and that's always been the way it's been around here," he said.
"That's why I'm proud to be a part of this."
Firefighter Brian Power came all the way from Toronto.
"It's very emotional because it could be one of your best buddies right besides you - gone in an instant," he said.
Among those paying tribute to Cahill as his flag-draped casket passed by was 5-year-old Tristan Kelley, whose father is a Boston firefighter.
His mother, Heather Kelley, said Tristan wanted to come dressed as a firefighter. She said she wanted to come to show support to Cahill's family and to honor all firefighters.
"I think it's just an amazing thing to look at the turnout and for a child to say, 'This is what my dad does and he's a real hero,'" Heather Kelley said.
Kathy Bear said her 3-year-old son is obsessed with firefighters and that she used Thursday as a lesson for her kids.
"They're heroes. They're out to protect us the same as policemen," she said. "That's what I try to teach them."
While learning that firefighters can die serving their community may be a hard lesson for children, it's not a discouraging one. If asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Tristan Kelley would say a firefighter.
A woman from Ireland was stunned by what she saw.
"I think its amazing the way emergency services have set things up today. Back home in Ireland we've never seen anything as amazing as this."
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Photos From The Funeral
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments