Firefighters gather yearly for somber holiday tradition

Losing a friend and fellow firefighter last August made the annual Schaumburg Fire Department Thanksgiving Memorial Service even harder for Capt. Robert Levin.

"Each year when we gather here, we thank God for the blessing he has bestowed upon us and we ask him to please watch over our firemen and keep us from adding another name on our list," Levin said Wednesday. "Unfortunately, our prayers this year were not answered."

Levin was referring to David Grandt, a 30-year department veteran. He died Aug. 2 in a motorcycle crash in Indiana. Grandt, 55, had just retired but continued to serve the department.

Wednesday morning, Schaumburg firefighters and family members crowded into St. Matthew Catholic Church, like they have for the past 14 years, to mourn men like Grandt. He's among the nine firefighters to have died while working for the department, on or off duty.

Grandt's wife, Christine, was also seriously hurt in the wreck. She was walking Wednesday -- a departure from her husband's funeral when she was still in a wheelchair.

The Grandt family was joined by other fallen firefighters' loved ones, including Lake Forest Fire Lt. Michael Gallo. His father, Anthony Gallo, died on Dec. 16, 1977, when his fire truck skidded on ice and crashed during a false call. He is the only Schaumburg firefighter who has died while on duty.

Michael Gallo was particularly emotional Wednesday, as his Lake Forest firefighters continue to mourn the death of colleague Peter McWilliams, who died in September.

"To bury one of your brothers is the hardest thing probably you ever have to do," said Gallo, his voice trembling.

Schaumburg Fire Chief David Schumann noted the men memorialized Wednesday had different ranks, personalities and lifestyles.

"(But) the one thing that they all shared in common that I know was when that dispatch tone was activated at the fire station and they hit the street, they gave everything they had, every time, every day throughout their career," Schumann said.

Near the front of the church, a table displayed neatly framed photos of the nine firefighters. One included a memorial poem written by the children of a firefighter.

Gallo asked the children of the nine firefighters to gather around him, saying it would give a more human face to the memorial. Some were youths, some adults, some grabbing tissue and sobbing. Some gave and received hugs of support.

"As painful as this can be sometimes," Gallo said, "it is a privilege that you guys remember our dads."