Fallen Black Firefighters Honored at Chatham Neighborhood Park
A Pierce model fire truck, named in memory of fallen Chicago Firefighter Sidney Brown, has logged about 37,000 miles since arriving to a South Side fire station a dozen years ago.
On Saturday, the vehicle traveled just four miles from Engine House 75 to a park also named in honor of Brown in 1990, in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood.
But the big red engine wasn’t dispatched to help put out a fire that afternoon. It was used to highlight a tribute to Brown and a dozen other black firefighters who lost their lives while on duty.
“It is important for us to remember our heroes and make sure our young people know that people who look just like them do risk their lives and sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice to save not only friends and neighbors but people they have never met,” said Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago to more than a 200 people at Brown Memorial Park, 634 E. 86th St.
The ceremony, which was attended by high profile figures including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s wife, Amy Rule, is believed to be the first to exclusively recognize African-American Chicago firefighters who died on the job.
During the ceremony, city firefighters played “Amazing Grace” on bag pipes while others spoke giving recognition to each deceased black fire fighter.
A large photograph was unveiled of Brown, who died in 1983 in a house fire at 119th and State streets.
Brown, who thought children were inside the burning home, became trapped in an attic. He was rescued but died from his injuries.
Brown was the first black Chicago firefighter to die while fighting a fire. Three other African-Americans firefighters died before him in traffic accidents while at work.
Park officials used the ceremony to also kick off a fund-raiser to build a memorial at the park for the black firefighters. The Brown Memorial Park Advisory Board also wants to build a $9 million field house and two-story community center in the park, which sits on seven acres of land.
Irving Brown, Brown’s brother, said his family was pleased with ceremony.
“As a family, this gives recognition for one of our loved ones who gave his life for the city and the black community of Chicago,” said Brown, who also was a city firefighter. Another brother, Wayman Brown, was a Chicago Police officer.
Fire Capt. David Walker said the event not only brought long overdue recognition to the deceased firefighters but also to black firefighters in general, who belonged to the department since their first engine company in 1872.
“We put ourselves on the line like the other firefighters,” said Walker, who is a now part of the same Engine 75 company, which once included Sidney Brown at 119th S. State St. “We are all Sidney Browns when we go out on a fire call. It could be our last.”
Other firefighters who were recognized were: John Jackson, who died in 1928; Hudd Bond, died in 1936; Jesse Edwards, died in 1973; Michael A. Talley, died in 1985; James E. Hill, died in 1987; Kelvin A. Anderson, died in 1989; Jessie F. Stewart, died in 1997; Anthony E. Lockhart, died in 1998; Eugene W. Blackmon died in 1998; L.C. Merrill, died in 2000; Corey Ankum, died in 2010 and Walter Patmon Jr., died in 2012.
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