West Roxbury Basketball Court Dedicated In Memory Of Fallen Firefighter

BOSTON (CBS) -- On Saturday afternoon Billings Field in West Roxbury was full of children and laughter. This is the kind of setting fallen firefighter Michael Kennedy, 33, gave his life  to preserve. He lived and served as a Boston firefighter so others can enjoy their lives and families.

"It's very moving to see his friends care so much to make sure the next generation of kids will remember Michael," Michael's mother, Kathy Crosby-Bell said.

It's been three years since Michael Kennedy and fire Lieutenant Ed Walsh were killed when they were trapped in a burning brownstone on Beacon Street.

On Saturday folks gathered at Billings Field in West Roxbury for the groundbreaking and dedication for the Michael R. Kennedy Court.

Roxbury was Kennedy's "old stomping grounds" when he was a kid.

"Billings was a special place to him because we grew up down here playing baseball and basketball," his friend Kevin Crosby said.

The court Kennedy used to run around on now bears his name.

"He would love it. He loved adored kids. He was kid himself and he would love to share this moment with kids," Michael's father Paul Kennedy said.

The Michael Kennedy court will be resurfaced this Fall and they plan to have an official ribbon cutting ceremony in October. Kennedy was a Marine Sergeant and Iraq war veteran. He was also very involved in the fire department's burn foundation, which helps raise money for burn victims.

Today he is greatly missed.  "It's brutal, and a very tough time and loss to us all," Paul Kennedy said.