SAUGERTIES, NY – On December 19, 2015, Captain Jack Rose of the Mt. Marion NY Fire Department died while fighting a chimney fire in Saugerties NY. During the operation, he became separated from his team, was soon located and became unresponsive outside the home.
Firefighters from throughout the region and the nation gathered yesterday in the town of Saugerties NY for his funeral.
It was estimated that 1,000 firefighters and an equal number of locals paid their respect to the 19-year-old firefighter. Over 200 pieces of apparatus were part of a procession that stretched for miles as they made their way from the funeral home to the church and then to the cemetery. An Albany Med Flight helicopter performed several flyovers over the mourners that had gathered for the Last Call ceremony.
During his funeral service, Fr. Christopher Berean, Pastor of Our Lady of the Snow in Saugerties NY, delivered the homily. The story he shared with the assembly showed compassion, was insightful and thought provoking.
Anyone in the fire service understands these traditions and knows how far this extended family reaches.
To Captain Jack Rose, rest easy. We’ve got it from here.
