Palatine firefighters stand at attention during a ceremony Tuesday morning at the Firefighter's Memorial in downtown Palatine to honor two volunteer firefighters who died after a passenger train struck their fire truck Oct. 1, 1946.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
The Palatine Fire Department gathered Tuesday morning to recognize the service and sacrifice of two fallen volunteer firefighters.
Wesley Comfort Jr. and Leonard Nebel died after a Chicago and Northwestern Railroad passenger train struck their fire truck while en route to a blaze Oct. 1, 1946.
The collision destroyed the engine and caused the vehicle to be dragged for nearly 100 feet.
Nebel, who died at the scene, was survived by his widow and five children. Comfort, the son of the fire chief, was treated at Palatine Community Hospital until succumbing to his injuries four days later.
The annual memorial ceremony took place at the Palatine Firefighter's Memorial at the Brockway and Slade streets. It included a procession of the Palatine Fire Department Honor Guard, a wreath presentation and ringing of the ceremonial fire bell.
Retired Palatine firefighter Bob Falardeau (right) and Palatine Fire Chief Scott Andersen salute during a ceremony Tuesday morning at the Firefighters Memorial in downtown Palatine. The ceremony honored two volunteer firefighters who died after a passenger train struck their fire truck Oct. 1, 1946.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Palatine firefighter Dale Stankewicz lays a wreath during a ceremony Tuesday morning at the Firefighters Memorial near the crossing where a passenger train struck a fire truck on Oct. 1, 1946.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Retired Palatine firefighter/paramedic Mark Hallett salutes during a ceremony Tuesday morning at the Firefighters Memorial near the railroad crossing in downtown Palatine where a passenger train struck a fire truck on Oct. 1, 1946.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Palatine firefighters Lt. Scott Meservey, Chris Meuret and Jim Samack stand at attention during a ceremony Tuesday morning at the Firefighters Memorial in downtown Palatine to honor two volunteer firefighters who died after a passenger train struck their fire truck Oct. 1, 1946.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com