Firefighters step up to restore memorial after theft
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Thieves recently stole mementos from a roadside memorial on the west side of Pacific.
“We were just all heartbroken,” said Faith Smiley.
The memorial was installed 11 years ago to honor Smiley’s late husband, Greg Light. Light was a firefighter & paramedic with the Eureka Fire Protection District for 27 years.
The memorial is located at the site where a drunk driver crossed the center line, striking Light’s vehicle, causing a collision that took his life in 2014.
“He was a great, great mentor of the fire service. He taught a lot, he taught a lot of paramedics,” said Scott Kavanagh, a battalion chief with the Eureka Fire District.
On Monday, Smiley said her son visited the memorial and saw numerous items had been stolen. Among then was a concrete angel statue, a firefighter helmet and a Maltese cross, which symbolizes courage and protection.
When word got back to firefighters who served with Light, they took action.
“All the fire service is a family. So we always take care of each other,” said Kavanagh.
Firefighters went to the memorial and installed a new fire helmet and attached a Eureka Fire Protection District t-shirt. The efforts revitalized the memorial.
Smiley responded to the firefighters’ efforts by saying, “I’m grateful for them and my family’s grateful for them.”
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