Unsung Heroes

45 years ago today. Remember them.

My family is so very grateful to the Philadelphia police officers, firefighters and National Guard citizen soldiers who are protecting our Kensington neighborhood tonight. Every Guard member I spoke with is from my city; South Philadelphia, The Northeast, and right here in Kensington, where one went to high school. These men are the Protectors; they are here to keep the peace. Without them our neighborhood and our city would be lost.

Duet (Tribute To The PFD) It’s after 2am, there is the sound of gunshots nearby, sirens are constant, growing louder, then fading into the distance. I check on my daughter Audrey, who can’t sleep tonight either. I go to the kitchen and turn on the Philadelphia Fire Dispatch scanner, there is something comforting and reassuring in the back and forth patter. As I listen to the radio calls, I can tell a lot about who’s speaking; for example I know their race because I’ve been ...Continue reading

Michael Robert Goodwin, Sr., Battalion Chief, LODD April 6, 2013 in Philadelphia, PA. Laid to rest seven years ago today, on April 11, 2013. We shall never forget your service and sacrifice. Rest easy, brother. We’ll take it from here.

Thank you to the Neary & Sweeney families, friends and colleagues of Lt. Robert Neary and FF Daniel Sweeney, for keeping these two men in your thoughts and pray...ers, for acknowledging their service and sacrifice at every opportunity. Thank you to the residents of East Kensington, the followers of this gallery, and to Jane Golden and the Mural Arts Program for all that you have done to keep their memory alive. Thank you to the Pfd Families Assocation, Philadelphia Fire Fighters' and Paramedics' Union, the members of Engine 7, Ladder 10 , BN10 M-20 and ENGINE 6 / LADDER 16 PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT for your untiring efforts to acknowledge and pay tribute. A special mention to Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums and the color guard for bringing their beautiful, haunting sound to the ceremony. Through gestures great and small, both public and private, you and many others too numerous to mention here, have all continued to pay homage to these two good men, who made the supreme sacrifice on April 9, 2012 on Box 361 at Front and York Streets. Your contributions are deeply felt and appreciated. See more

Heartbreaking. Rest easy, we will take it from here brother.

January 23rd, 2005. Remember them.

I’m working on a portrait of Philadelphia Fire Lieutenant Matthew LeTourneau, Engine Co. 45. He died two years ago on January 6, 2018 in a structural collapse. His unit and first alarm companies responded at 0851 hours to the 2200 block of North Colorado Street, a side street off West Susquehanna Avenue near 17th Street. There was a civilian inside and removed by PFD Firefighters-that civilian sadly perished. While operating, there was an interior structural collapse of the... original fire building and the companies of PFD’s special operations unit and from Battalion 8 and 3 were able to enter the building and extricate him-he was pinned in the debris-it took the members approx 30 minutes-and he was treated and transported to Temple Hospital. He was never alone, the rescue efforts started immediately. At 1107 hours he was declared deceased. Lieutenant LeTourneau was very involved with the recent UL Basement Fire Research Studies and was a deeply respected veteran fire officer, instructor and Firefighter in the Philadelphia and Delaware County area. I’m thankful that firefighter and good friend Bud Henkels introduced me to Matt at a 4th of July gathering in 2018. Having met makes this LODD portrait more meaningful. This is a rough study, there will be many more showing Matt in different situations until I’m ready to start the oil portrait. I’ll post progress images from time to time. Thanks to FirefighterCloseCalls and local news sources for the incident details in this post.

Two years ago today... Saying goodbye to a hero... As the heavens opened up and rain poured down, hundreds of firefighters from across the country stood at attention along the procession route. The beating of drums and the skirling of pipes echoed off the walls of the Cathedral as Captain Mathew LeTourneau was carried to Engine 45 for one final ride.... Rest easy sir, we'll take it from here.

From Mark O’Donnell, PFD. Thank you for your service my brother, we will take it from here: After a long and courageous battle we lost a great friend to cancer tonight. Greg Browne was an Academy classmate and excellent fire service paramedic. Our last conversation was what bagpipe music he wanted at his funeral. Among the songs he already knew was The Minstrel Boy which words are stuck in my heart right now: The minstrel boy to the war is gone, in the ranks of death ...you will find him. My thoughts and prayers are with Greg and his wife, and his Philly Fire family, especially L5/M35 and FSP-32.

Unsung Hero. She was killed in a drive-by, protecting her five year old son from a hail of bullets fired by evil people with no appreciation for the sanctity of life. Firefighters have that protective instinct; they see all life as precious. My friends and family in the Fire Service and Law Enforcement know what I mean.... Rest easy, Lieutenant. We’ll take if from here.

One of the first paintings I did for the Unsung Heroes series, in 1991. It took me many years to realize the significance of this self-portrait. I spent a lot of time in firehouses, and attending LODD funerals before I got it. Firefighters consider all life precious. It’s who they are. It’s who I am too, and why I do this work.... Stay safe out there, and thank you for following this page.