Naperville firefighters participate in Red Shirt Fridays campaign

Naperville firefighter/paramedic Chris Brazzale is not concerned with whether his fellow firefighters support the war in Afghanistan.

What he does care about is that no matter their stand on the war, they support our troops who are putting their lives on the line.

So with the approval of Naperville Professional Firefighters Union Local 4302, he has brought a national movement to support our troops to the firehouse.

Naperville Fire Department last month became one of the first organizations in the state to participate in the Red Shirt Fridays campaign. The push encourages participants - in this case, more than 200 firefighters and support staff - to wear red shirts in a show of solidarity with the troops.

"The whole idea was that you don't need to wear red to support the war, just to support the troops," Brazzale said.

Brazzale said the firefighters' union donated $2,000 for the shirts, which have the Naperville fire logo on the front and a message on the back supporting the troops.

For Brazzale, the campaign merely extends the support he has offered to troops in the past. A trip to New York City following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks inspired him to learn how to play the bagpipes.

Since 2003, he has been part of the Firefighters Highland Guard of Naperville. The group has played at soldier funerals and Patriot Guard events that welcome home fighting men and women.

On Feb. 26, firefighters donned the shirts for the first time after Brazzale and drummer Andy Winckler made the push. Brazzale said the Lisle-Woodridge, Bolingbrook and Plainfield fire departments also have expressed interest in the shirts.

"It's a show of patriotism," Brazzale said. "We don't want to get into a political discussion with anybody. First and foremost, it's for the soldiers and that's it."

During the trip to New York City, Brazzale says the wife of a lieutenant who died in one of the Twin Towers saw that the group of about 20 workers came from Naperville. She took the group in and arranged for them to stay at a firehouse.

"It was very emotional," he said. "We were overwhelmed at the loss."

Years later, Brazzale still carries the effects of those attacks, including an unwavering support for the troops.

He said firefighters will continue to wear the shirts until it's no longer necessary.

"We're going to do it until they come home."