Palatine to honor three firefighters killed battling 1973 Ben Franklin fire

The Palatine Fire Department will hold a memorial service at 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, to honor three volunteer firefighters killed in the line of duty 52 years ago.

John Wilson, Richard Freeman and Warren Ahlgrim lost their lives fighting a fire Feb. 23, 1973 in the Ben Franklin store in downtown Palatine. Wilson, Freeman, and Ahlgrim were on the first hose line and died while fighting the fire in the basement of the store.

The ceremony will be held at the Palatine Firefighter’s Memorial at the corner of North Brockway and West Slade streets in downtown Palatine. The Palatine Fire Honor Guard will step off from Station 85 at 39 E. Colfax St. at approximately 8:45 a.m. and march to the memorial.

The ceremony will include a wreath presentation and ringing of the ceremonial fire bell honoring the three firefighters. The event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.