The July 22 First Responder Remembrance Ceremony at Firemen’s Park brought out community members, elected officials plus Evanston fire and police personnel to a solemn Evanston tradition honoring fallen first responders.
The ceremony, held in the shady park at the corner of Simpson Street and Maple Avenue, recognized the contributions of Evanston firefighters Marty Leoni, William Craig and George Stiles who died in the line of duty.
Leoni, in his late 20s, was a four-year department employee who died while searching for an infant trapped on the second floor of a burning residential building at 1927 Jackson Ave. on July 22, 1985.
The child, 1 month old, survived amid burns over 60% of the body with loss of part of the right arm.
According to records from the Illinois Fire Service Institute, Leoni was searching for the infant when Leoni opened the door to a room and was fatally burned in a backdraft explosion. Hundreds of firefighters attended Leoni’s funeral service with 70 departments joining the funeral procession, also according to the Illinois Fire Service Institute memorial page for Leoni.
A Marty Leoni scholarship honorarium was established as an Evanston Township High School award. Leoni played safety for the Wildkits football team.
William Craig and George Stiles died after being trapped in a fire at the Clayton Marks manufacturing plant at 1900 Dempster St. in Evanston on Dec. 13, 1905 when an east building wall collapsed.
People attending the ceremony as audience members included Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss.
“I think sometimes we take for granted the risk that our first responders put themselves in every single day to keep us safe,” Biss said, “This annual ceremony not only commemorates heroes who gave their lives in Evanston but just reminds us about what’s at stake for those who do this work.”
The ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by the Evanston Fire Department and Evanston Police Department Honor Guard. The Band of Brothers Pipes and Drums fronted the procession. After the event, the Evanston Fire Fighters Association Local 742 sponsored a free barbecue lunch with fellowship.
Evanston Fire Chief Paul J. Polep welcomed the audience.
“Your support and recognition means a lot to us,” Polep said.
Tzvi Montrose, Evanston Police Department chaplain, offered the invocation and reflection.
“Let us also reflect on the sacrifices made by our Evanston Police Department,” Montrose said.
In the audience was retired Evanston Police Department Chaplain Rabbi Dov Hillel Klein of Evanston, director of Chabad of Evanston, who shared thoughts after the ceremony.
“We have to remember those who pay the ultimate sacrifice for us, I mean, that we should have the beautiful Evanston that we have,” Klein said.
William Lynch, Local 742 Union president, spoke to the audience from the podium, speaking of the familial bond within the firefighter community.
“In our line of work we don’t have coworkers,” Lynch said. “We recognize each other as brother and sister. It’s an investment in each other.”
Ken Carter, Evanston Police Department commander, said to the audience that police officers and firefighters hold, “the promise that we will give our lives for the protection of others.”
The ceremony included a tone recognizing the date and time that Firefighter/Paramedic Marty Leoni died on the same date of the ceremony followed by a moment of silence and a bell ringing ceremony.
The bagpiper and drummer performed “Amazing Grace.” Murray Gordon of Evanston, a United States Army veteran who served actively and in the reserves as a bandsman, sounded taps on a silver trumpet.
Gordon explained where he goes in his mind for the short time while sounding the piece.
“I focus on the note that I’m playing, that’s it…the note I stay in real time, present time,” Gordon said.
“I started with it (sounding taps) in the army,” Gordon added, “and it had a huge impact on my life. It reminded me, all the time, of the sacrifices that were being made.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
