Ceremony to recognize Palatine firefighters killed in line of duty

The Palatine Fire Department will host a memorial ceremony at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, to recognize the service and sacrifice of Palatine volunteer firefighters Wesley Comfort Jr. and Leonard Nebel. They died Oct. 1, 1946, responding to a fire when their fire truck collided with a Chicago and Northwestern Railroad passenger train. Nebel died at the scene and was survived by his widow and five children. Comfort, son of the fire chief, died four days later. The ceremony will take place at the Palatine Firefighter’s Memorial, Brockway and Slade streets, Palatine. It will include a procession by the Palatine Fire Department Honor Guard, a wreath presentation and ringing of the ceremonial fire bell. The public is welcome to attend.