Fallen Homewood firefighter Carey to be honored in Springfield – The SouthtownStar.
BY VICTORIA JOHNSON Correspondent May 12, 2011 7:58AM
Bikers pull out of the Homewood Fire Department for the Fallen Axes Run to Springfield, part of a fundraiser for fallen firefighters including one of their own, Brian Carey, in Homewood, Ill., on Wednesday, May, 11, 2011. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media
Some 70 motorcycles roared out of the Homewood Fire Department on Wednesday morning, bound for Springfield, where nine fallen Illinois firefighters will be honored today.
That one of the honorees is the Homewood department’s Brian Carey made this year’s ride especially significant to Matteson firefighter Tracy Guidera. It hit close to home when Carey, 28, of Evergreen Park, was killed in March 2010 while trying to save an 87-year-old man from a house fire in Homewood.
“It was nice to be able to do this for Brian,” said Guidera, a member of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Honor Guard who makes the trek every year.
The caravan, which also included fire trucks from the Homewood and Chicago fire departments and about a dozen cars, was to travel the 200 miles to Springfield for today’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service and Firefighter Medal of Honor awards ceremony at the Capitol.
Wednesday’s ride doubled as a fundraiser, with donations of $30 per car or motorcycle and $15 per passenger. The money will go to benefit firefighters or families of firefighters in need and a scholarship fund for students at Brother Rice High School, which Carey attended.
The plan called for riders in the “Ride for Boo/Brian Carey Memorial Fund Fallen Axes” procession to make their way to Springfield with a few stops for gas and snacks along the way before settling in for an evening of food, drinks and music at the Springfield Firefighters Lake Club.
The ride drew firefighters from across northern Illinois who wanted to support their fallen comrades and their families.
“More and more people heard what we were doing and wanted to ride with us,” Homewood firefighter and event coordinator Mike Bell said.
Chicago fire Lt. Larry Anoman, a friend of Carey’s father, Brian, also rode to Colorado Springs for a firefighter memorial for Carey in September. He never thought he’d be riding for one of his own this time around. But Corey Ankum, one of two firefighters killed in a Chicago building collapse in December, worked under Anoman on Tower Ladder 34.
Both Ankum and Edward Stringer, the other firefighter killed, were in Anoman’s District 6, and all 17 firefighters sent to that fire were injured that fateful day.
“Devastating,” Anoman said in describing the loss.
He said rides such as Wednesday’s ease the pain a bit and said it’s good to know they can provide some support to the firefighters’ families.
“It helps bring some of the closure to it,” he said. “It makes it a little easier for the families. We’re here for the families and for the brothers.”
Guidera, as part of the honor guard, will take part in a procession with flags and axes to memorialize those killed. Her husband, Tony Guidera, was going along for the ride for the first time. He and Tracy were making the journey in an older Corvette.
“I really like how firefighters support each other and how the money goes to the families,” he said.
Though Bell was excited about the ride and the good turnout, he said the pain of Carey’s death still lingers at the Homewood Fire Department.
“It hasn’t been easy,” he said. “Words can’t describe. It’s a terrible feeling. I just can’t imagine ever having to go through that again, and I’m sorrowful that other departments have to go through this.”
