Steady Stream Of Mourners At Firefighter's Visitation
OAK LAWN (CBS) – Monday marked the beginning of an emotional week for the city of Chicago, especially for the brave men and women of the Chicago Fire Department.
Visitation began for fallen firefighter Edward Stringer in Oak Lawn. He and his colleague, Corey Ankum, were killed last Wednesday when part of a building collapsed during a South Side fire.
Stringer, 47, was remembered as a caring and humorous man, as well as a fearless firefighter who had gone into burning buildings on several occasions to look for trapped occupants.
"We've lost a member of our family, and we are a very close-knit group," Tom Ryan, president of Firefighter Local Union No. 2, said.
The ranks of firefighters formed a virtual sea of dark uniforms outside Blake-Lamb Funeral Home. Some of his peers waited in line outside for two hours to pay final respects.
"It just shows, when things are bad, people forget their differences," Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff said.
Stringer's funeral Mass is Tuesday. It begins at 10 a.m. at St. Rita of Cascia on Western Avenue in Chicago.
Tributes Ankum begin on Wednesday. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Apostolic Church of God, at 63rd and Dorchester on Chicago's South Side. His funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Services for both firefighters will be streamed live on cbschicago.com.
