May 14--Firefighters stood three deep, wearing dress blues and black ribbons on their badges. They wrapped around the block outside the Dearborn church.
A refurbished 1937 fire rig carrying the flag-draped coffin of firefighter Brian Woehlke slowly approached.
One by one, firefighters and police officers lifted their right hands, saluting as the vehicle passed.
An American flag was raised into the air by the ladder of another fire truck, blowing in the wind as mourners walked into the Church of the Divine Child on North Silvery Lane on Monday. All were there to pay their respects to the 29-year-old Wayne-Westland firefighter killed in the line of duty last week.
"We're here to honor him," Hamtramck firefighter Kurt Edwards said. "I would just hope that any man or woman that dies in the line of duty ... is honored in this way."
Edwards didn't know Woehlke, 29, who died Wednesday when a roof collapsed while he was battling a fire at a strip mall in Westland. But it didn't matter -- hundreds in the fire profession were there to pay homage to one of their own who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Woehlke -- known for his fun-loving personality, signature smile, willingness to help others and love of his family, job and God -- is survived by his wife Jennifer and young daughter Ava.
Mourners wiped tears from their eyes during the funeral mass, which was filled to its capacity of 1,500 and spilled into an overflow area.
"Not everybody can be a firefighter," the Rev. Jim Bilot said. "It takes a very special person."
Woehlke of Dearborn started his dream job about 10 months ago, following in his grandfather's footsteps.
"That's what he wanted to do," said his friend, Derek Bias. "He wanted to be a firefighter."
Bias described Woehlke as the "nicest guy you'll ever, ever come across" and said Woehlke brought his mom Mother's Day flowers in 2005 and 2006 when Bias was out of state.
His first priority was his family, and he fell quickly for Jennifer after they met, Bias recalled.
"I remember when he met his wife... he was like 'I think I met the girl I'm going to marry,' " Bias said. "And he did."
Brad Nollar, 29, of Saline attended Lutheran High School Westland with Woehlke, and they were roommates in college. He said Woehlke had a huge heart, worked hard and loved helping people.
"Everybody ... was just blessed to have known him," Nollar said.
Woehlke was the first firefighter killed in the line of duty in the Westland department's 47-year history. The cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday.
Jerry Wojciechowski, 84, of Dearborn looked on as mourners gathered for the service.
"I've never seen so many firemen in all my life," he said. "I respect firemen and the job they do."
Gabriel Lencioni, 5, of Canton wore a fire hat and jacket for the service, which he attended with his mother.
"It's great to see the support that the family has," said Dearborn City Council President Tom Tafelski. "It's just a tragic time."
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People lined the streets as the procession traveled through several communities heading to the church, Wayne-Westland Fire Chief Michael Reddy said.
He said more than 200 fire trucks were at the church, and the department was overwhelmed by the amount of support it received from departments across the U.S. and internationally.
"He was a tremendous asset to the fire department. He was a great person. He was well-respected among his peers," Reddy said. "And he's going to be deeply missed."
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