During a thoughtful and prayerful gathering of firefighters, family and friends at the Firemen’s Memorial Park, Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis paid grateful tribute to all honorable members of NFD at the annual Firefighter Memorial Ceremony at 8AM, Sat., Dec. 7, 2024.
Chief Puknaitis explained that the ceremonial ringing of the bell in memory of individuals who died in the line of duty is a tradition of the fire services that dates back before the beginning of the Naperville Fire Department 150 years ago.
Chief reminded the gathering that in Naperville, the ringing of the bell is performed for annual observances in May, September 11 and on Remembrance Day December 7.
The tradition reflects respect and honor to individuals who gave their lives to their duty, mindful that methods may change but the goals remain the same as they were in the past; to save lives and to protect property, sometimes at a terrible cost.
The Naperville community is well aware that the fire service of today is ever changing, always innovating to meet the needs of the evolving community; yet, every firefighter recognizes the traditions that accompany the sound of a bell.
The Naperville Firemen’s Memorial Park is located at 1072 W. Jefferson Avenue, just west of the DuPage River.
James Hoch Photography Video & Photos: https://jameshochphotography.smugmug.com/Naperville-Illinois/NapervilleFireDepartment/NFD-2024-Remembrance-Ceremony
‘Ladder of Light’ pays tribute to daily risks of firefighters
The “Ladder of Light,” a Century Walk sculpture designed by Naperville artist Paul Kuhn, was unveiled in 2020 at the Firemen’s Memorial Park on the 50th anniversary of a tragic accident that took the lives of three Naperville firefighters, Lieutenant R. F. Rechenmacher, Engineer J. L. Herring and Fireman B. R. Petrowki.
Also honored at the park is Lieutenant George Winckler of the NFD who died in the line of duty during a training exercise in 1991. Winckler, who had been with the department since 1965, suffered a heart attack during a live burn training exercise at the department’s training tower.
After dark, the “Ladder of Light” is aglow with two beams of light that simulate the vertical rails of a ladder. According to Chief Puknaitis, the Century Walk sculpture is particularly beautiful when it’s snowing—a “snow globe” of sorts.
