Worcester Firefighter Christopher Roy's Funeral
Normally when I had out to chase picture it starts off with the sounds of tones dropping or a text alert, followed by me jumping out of bed or up out of my chair throwing on jeans and a job shirt jabbing my camera and racing out the door; but; not this time!
This time it was an early rise initiated by an alarm clock. No jeans and job shirt for this one, I dug through my dresser found my nicer black job pants, out came the light blue button down shirt and after reciting the "bunny jumps around and around the tree and jumps through the hole" I knotted my tie.
Ok, up and dressed, now it was time to throw the battery on the charger to top it off. While that was charging I quickly transferred photos off my SD card to make sure I had plenty of space to snap as many picture as I could. After that a quick Google search for directions I was ready to head out.
In the truck and after a short stop at D&D's it was on the road for the long drive to Worcester. After about an hour and twenty-five minutes on the road, I hit the surface streets of a city in mourning. After navigating the detours and street closures I found a parking lot, right around the corner from Saint John's Church the location of the funeral service for Firefighter Christopher Roy who tragically passed away in a fire on December 9th, 2018.
After doing a fast inventory of gear; ok, zoom lens, battery, glare shield, etc; I headed across the street and into a see of blue of men and woman from all across New England and from across the Country who where filing in to send Firefighter Roy off to God's House with one final salute.
As I traveled through the parking lot trying to document this sad day through photos the walk became difficult as the parking lot went from twenty or so when I arrived to hundreds. There where men and women represent the Brothers and Sisters of the IAFF from all corners of the earth, Ipswich, Essex, Lynnfield, Lynn, Wltham, Boston Natick to name a few of the locals. There where representatives from departments Gilford and Liconia NH and more. Members from CALFIRE showed their presence. The list is large and to many to name, I am horribly sorry if I did not recognize you or your department.
Still being pretty early in the morning and knowing that everyone could use a good cup of Joe and a bagel or egg sandwich crews from Worcester Box4 association and Boston Sparks association two excellent Rehab group where at the ready in the lot directly across from the Church which was the gathering point.
Around eightish the detail officers with megaphone in hand came and broke up the social gather over coffees and hot chocolates to gathered everyone up and shuttled them off to line the route. The line started at was being called the commons a small area around a rotatory and it snaked it way under a railroad bridge and up the road for as far as the eye could see.
As crews where lining up and getting ready to salute Firefighter Roy others where preparing to raise the American flag over the route, Ladder 1 and Ladder 2 moved into position with cables attached they slowly raised it high into the sky over the roadway. A little up, a little down, more to the left, no,no, no more to the right crews got it perfectly centered over the road, could not have anything less.
Now with everything in order and flag up, members lined up with shields covered and white gloves on, Pipes and Drums tuned up the detail officer called out "Detail attend hut!" and with that the chitter chatter abruptly stop and everyone snapped to attention. Next came the drum major called out the song and the forward march order. And with that the service for Firefighter Roy began.
The Pipes & Drums filled the air with beautiful; but; sad song. The police detail began to roll and step by step the procession began to move. At the end of a long line of Worcester Fire and EMS member matching along came the strobe lights, lighting the way of Deputy Chief 4, Ladder4; FF Christopher Roy's rig; then came Engine5; which is out of the same house; draped in black with a motorcycle detail on each corner carrying the casket draped with the Worcester Local's flag carrying FF Roy's body. As the rig got close section by section lead by a call of an officer "Detail present arm!" Raised a final salute to a lost member and showed the family what it means to be apart of the IAFF family.
After the procession made it's way through the sea of saluting members and under the flag it pulled up to Saint John's Church where detail officers removed the casket off the back of the rig and carefully carried it inside followed by the family and members of the Worcester Fire Department.
While the service was going on inside members outside used the time to tell a good joke and have a good laugh, because as much as this was a somber time the IAFF does not just mourn the loss of one of its members it celebrates the members life, it supports each other through the difficult time, it show that demon which tragic took Firefighter Roy's life way to early that the IAFF and it's families will not be broken.
During this time member also passed the boot to take up a collection for the daughter of Firefighter Roy, raising some $23,000+ dollars.
With the sounds from the service being played over a Public Address system member knew when it was time to line up again and lined up they did, this time on the opposite side of the Church along the roads between the Church and the Station which Firefighter Christopher Roy manned.
And just as the procession began so it would also end "Detail Attend Hut!" Conversation ended and everyone snapped to attention. The Casket was loaded back on top of the rig. The Pipes & Drums again filled the air. The police detail began the slow roll. Again the call came to "Present arms!" and with that the finale salute began as the casket left Saint John's Church through the sea of blue, bring Firefighter Christopher Roy to his final resting place.
God speed Firefighter Roy may he bless you and may he provide comfort to your family knowing now you man his house in heaven. And may all your Brothers and Sisters be comforted knowing they have an angel crawling through those darken hallway with them. Rest easy!
