Feb. 22--TAYLOR -- When Joseph Czerw died while fighting a fire in Taylor 31 years ago, he left behind a hole for his family and community.
On Wednesday, a helmet blessing ceremony will be held at the Union Street hose company at 7:30 p.m. to honor Mr. Czerw and pray for the safety of all firefighters.
"Nobody thinks that anything can happen to you as a volunteer firefighter," said volunteer firefighter Maureen Slovenkai at Taylor Hose and Engine Company 1 on Thursday. "But we train the same way."
On Feb. 27, 1982, Mr. Czerw, a volunteer firefighter, was called to a fire in the 1100 block of South Main Street and accidently bumped into a high-tension wire. He was the first Taylor firefighter in recent memory to die in the line of duty, his widow, Helene Czerw, 60, said.
Ms. Slovenkai said she was amazed at the reaction she received from the community. She expects at least 200 people to be in attendance, with firefighters from Scranton and the surrounding communities joining the service.
"The outpouring from area companies has been overwhelming," Ms. Slovenkai said.
Each year after the annual Memorial Day Parade, the company and Mrs. Czerw would lay flowers at his grave at Holy Cross Cemetery in Old Forge.
"He was 28 at the time; his son was 2," Mrs. Czerw said, referring to her son, Joseph.
The event will feature a welcome from state Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich and a blessing from the Rev. Gary Mensinger of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Old Forge.
"Joe gave the ultimate sacrifice for his community," said John Tigue, borough fire captain and council vice president.
Mrs. Czerw said Mr. Czerw was a "typical Joe" but one with a big heart. He also had a strong sense of duty, she said. When he heard a fire call, there was no hesitation, no matter what.
"He would give you the shirt off his back," she said.
Contact the writer: [email protected], @jkohutTT on Twitter
Copyright 2013 - The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
