Firefighters flock to Bridgeport

[GumbyCT]

In case you missed it there was a tragedy in Bridgeport, CT recently.

Firefighters flock to Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - Firefighters from all over the state came to the Park City to pay their last respects to two of their own who died in the line of duty.

It's always a busy morning on the rails at Union Station in New Haven, but today there's a wash of blue as dozens of firefighters take the New Haven line down to Bridgeport for the funerals of fallen firefighters Lt. Steven Velasquez and Michel Baik. Metro-North is making sure that any firefighter who wants to attend the service can get there for free.

"It's very important that we show our support. It's a very difficult day, but it's very important that we show support for firefighters, as well as families," said Bill Hunt, Hartford Fire Department.

Firefighters from Meriden, East Hartford and New Haven, even firefighters from other states, made their way to Bridgeport.

"Ten thousand firefighters are expected to be in Bridgeport today. There's a lot of people who do public service work, you just don't see them every day, but they're out there doing their jobs," said Stan Slubowski, New Haven Fire Department.

Velasquez and Baik died while fighting what should have been a routine house fire.

"All buildings look similar to us and it could have been any one of us at any time. We support each other that way," said Greg Grier, New Haven Fire Department.

Comments and a video are here -
http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/fairfield_ ... rs-funeral

Edit to fix the link

[packitin]

I agree wholeheartily with all your statements.
Sadly, we had a tragic event to occur about 30 miles from our city.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/255160
Lee Flora, named in the artical, is a good friend of mine, and we are all hurting for the folks at Rocky Mount.
Also, my dad was a fireman at the Radford Arsenal during the war.

[nanwilson]

My brother in law was a fire fighter and died from a chemical fire. We went to the Firefighters Memorial in Colorado Springs the year he was memorialized. That was the most emotional ceremony I have ever been to. Firefighters from all over North America attended to remember and memorialize their fellow brothers and sisters. There was one family there that had lost 2 of their family in a fire, father and daughter. We have been back several times and have laid a rose on the wall where my brother in laws plaque is. There were about 20 firefighters memorialized the same year as my brother in law.
Nan

[GumbyCT]

If you didn't follow the link - http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/fairfield_ ... rs-funeral

there is a video about how Metro-North is offering free train rides for firefighter going to/from the services. There is also a tab with some photos. The TV coverage has been outstanding.

[sierra21]

I have alot of friends in the new london and putnam erea. I belonged to the east putnam fire department in ct. it is a said day when one of your own die.

[GumbyCT]

I have alot of friends in the new london and putnam erea. I belonged to the east putnam fire department in ct. it is a said day when one of your own die.

Esp. since this building didn't even have a "Certificate of Occupancy".