Saturday evening’s rainy weather, with lightning brightening the dark sky across Worcester, was no coincidence, Michael Papagni said.

Papagni, president of the Worcester Firefighters Local 1009 union, told a group of firefighters, family members and residents gathered inside the McKeon Road Fire Station, shielded from the rain, that the weather was a sign from fallen Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard. A sign the hero was still among them.

“Just look at the weather. That’s not an accident,” Papagni said, as laughs started to fill the fire station. “Jay is here. He’s left this earth. But his spirit, his self, remains with us ... He’s with us every day. He will always be with us.”

Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of Menard’s line-of-duty death. A tribute for the firefighter included a wreath-laying, a bell ceremony and a 21-gun salute.

On the morning of Nov. 13, 2019, Menard and fellow firefighters rushed into a burning three-decker at 7 Stockholm St. When flames overtook the third floor, Menard pushed fellow firefighter Chris Pace out a window to safety.

Papagni reminded the group of the dangerous job taken on by firefighters.

“We put our lives on hold and we do it to help other people who need help at that time in their lives. Sometimes this involves great sacrifice. And two years ago, Jason Menard did just that. He didn’t hesitate. He responded. He went to others in their time of need, putting his life on hold and paying the ultimate sacrifice. And he left so much behind,” Papagni said.

Menard, 39, left his wife, Tina, and three children, Josh, Hailee and Morgan. Jason and Tina were high school sweethearts who met at Doherty Memorial High School.

As Saturday evening’s tribute began, Tina Menard wiped a tear from her eye with a tissue.

On the day of the fire, Menard had planned to leave work and head to Disney with his family. What should have been a time of celebration turned into mourning.

Menard was assigned to Ladder 5, Group 2 at the McKeon Road Fire Station. He joined the department in 2010 and was promoted to lieutenant eight years later.

Acting Fire Chief Martin Dyer recalled his last conversation with Menard. The two talked about his plan for that day at work, and then the conversation turned to his kids, as it always did, Dyer said.

“He told me all about Josh and Hailee’s transition to Worcester Tech and how well Morgan was doing,” Dyer said. “Jay was very proud of being a Worcester Fire lieutenant but he was prouder to be the husband to Tina, the father to Josh, Hailee and Morgan.”

The blaze appeared to have started in a heater on the second floor, tenants told investigators. When firefighters got to the scene, they saw heavy fire coming out a second-floor window, according to court documents.

Initially, there were reports that a mother and baby were trapped in the building. The mother and child got out before firefighters went in, officials later said.

Earlier this year, Menard was posthumously given the medal of honor during the Massachusetts Firefighter of the Year awards.

“Lt. Menard left behind children, a wife, and his sisters and brothers in the fire department when he gave his life to save a fellow firefighter before becoming trapped himself. To Tina and your family, we can never say ‘thank you’ enough for all that you’ve sacrificed,” Gov. Charlie Baker said at the time.

Sadly, Worcester is too familiar with feeling the heartbreak of losing a first responder.

On Dec. 3, 1999, a blaze at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. claimed the lives of six firefighters, who became known as the “Worcester 6.” Then, Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr. died on Dec. 8, 2011, while battling flames inside an Arlington Street three-decker. Firefighter Christopher Roy was killed battling a blaze on Lowell Street on Dec. 9, 2018. In July 2019, Lt. John Kennedy died several days after fighting a fire.

And earlier this year, Worcester said goodbye to Police Officer Manny Familia, who died trying to save a drowning 14-year-old boy.

In September, a report from a consulting company was published offering recommendations to the Worcester Fire Department to better prevent line-of-duty deaths.

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