Fallen firefighters remembered

Firefighters from across the state remembered their fallen comrades Saturday morning with a solemn tolling of the fire bell at the historic Elgin Fire Barn No. 5 Museum.

The somber peals concluded a special memorial service commemorating firefighters who've died over the past year.

The ceremony, which attracted about 50 community members to the old fire barn on St. Charles Street, recognized four firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty statewide as well as four Fox Valley firefighters who died this year of other causes.

After a hand salute to the uniformed color guard during the national anthem, a memorial message was delivered by fire journalist Janet Wilmoth.

The editorial director of Fire Chief Publications, Wilmoth noted that firefighters today face hazards unknown just a decade ago.

Still, they deal with problems that are centuries old, she said.

"It's a hazardous job, but one of passion and commitment ... just how many people you've touched, you'll never know."

Area firefighters remembered this year were Harold Berne of the South Elgin Fire Department; Sheldon Debs of the West Dundee Fire Department; Robert Guetschow of the Carpentersville Fire Department; and Stanley Sphatt of the Elgin Fire Department.

Elgin resident and St. Charles firefighter Zach Sage was among firefighters from 12 area departments represented at Saturday's service.

"This is the big social event," Sage said. "There's just this sense of responsibility to come, to pay tribute."

Mary Judkins and her husband, Larry, an Elgin firefighter for 30 years, now retired, also make a habit of coming to the event.

"The amount of camaraderie you see is just incredible," she said.