Palatine memorial ceremony to honor firefighters killed in 1946 crash

The Palatine Fire Department will host a memorial ceremony Sunday to recognize the service and sacrifice of two volunteer firefighters killed in the line of duty 77 years ago.

Wesley Comfort Jr. and Leonard Nebel suffered fatal injuries Oct. 2, 1946, when their fire truck collided with a train as they rushed to the scene of a fire.

The memorial ceremony will take place at the Palatine Firefighters Memorial at the corner of North Brockway

and West Slade streets in downtown Palatine. The Palatine Fire Department Honor Guard will step off

from Fire Station 85, 39 E. Colfax St., at approximately 8:45 a.m. and march to the firefighters memorial. The ceremony will begin with the arrival of the Honor Guard at about 9 a.m. and include a wreath presentation and ringing of the ceremonial fire bell. The ceremony is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.