State Senator Dale Fowler | Illinois State Senator
State Senator Dale Fowler | Illinois State Senator
State leaders convened in Springfield on May 14 for the 31st Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Ceremony. The event took place at the Bank of Springfield Center, uniting numerous firefighters from across Illinois to pay homage to their deceased colleagues.
The ceremony featured a tribute to five Illinois firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty last year:
- Chicago Firefighter/EMT Jermaine Pelt
- Chicago Fire Lt. Jan Tchoryk
- Chicago Fire Lt. Kevin Ward
- Chicago Firefighter/EMT Andrew “Drew” Price
- Maroa Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Larry Peasley
Additionally, 12 firefighters from around the state were recognized with medals of honor or valor for their exceptional acts of bravery. Among those honored was Metropolis Fire Department Captain Clay Childers, who received the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Medal of Valor.
In October 2023, Captain Childers entered a burning building in Metropolis where he found a woman suffering from smoke inhalation. Without any water source, Captain Childers managed to rescue the woman from the flames. Following medical treatment, her life was saved.
According to data from the U.S. Fire Administration, fatalities among firefighters continue to rise, with 25 casualties already recorded this year in the United States. One such casualty was an Aurora firefighter who tragically died in the line of duty just last month.
Alerts Sign-up