St. Charles church draped in bunting in honor of pastor's son
The St. Charles Fire Department draped black and purple bunting over the outside of the Baker Memorial United Methodist Church's sanctuary Friday morning.
The dark colors recognized the heroic actions of Andrew Zajac and his fellow firefighters who died while fighting a blaze in forests near Twisp, Washington. Zajac, 26, was the swon of the church's pastor, the Rev. Mary Zajac.
Memorial services await the return of Zajac and her husband Jim, who traveled to Washington to support Andrew's widow, Jenn.
The family issued a statement on Friday, noting Andrew Zajac was a passionate outdoorsman who had bachelor's and master's degrees in biology and was in his second year as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service.
"We are saddened that a life with such promise has ended so soon and we will miss him deeply," the statement read. "We ask that people respect the privacy of his family and friends during this difficult time."
The Rev. Al Patten, a former pastor of the church, said he was touched by the immediate and heartfelt response of the church and surrounding community for the Zajac family.
"It's a sad story, but when you see the outpouring of compassion you kind of feel good about your fellow human beings," he said.