Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
(TNS)
Nov. 25—On Monday morning, retired Pittsburgh firefighter James Wyzomirski gave a final toast to a fallen friend and colleague.
Standing before hundreds of firefighters from across the country at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland, Mr. Wyzomirski asked everyone to raise a hand to battalion Chief John Walsh.
"John was a good son, a good brother, a good husband, a good firefighter, and a good friend," Mr. Wyzomirski said, "It's been my honor to know you, John. Love you. Rest in peace."
The cathedral erupted in applause.
Chief Walsh, a 37-year veteran of the fire bureau and a battalion chief for more than a decade, died Nov. 20 from a heart-related condition while commanding a fire scene in East Hills. He was 60.
He was remembered as a leader who embodied the qualities of integrity, courage, kindness and selflessness.
"These qualities are what make a firefighter a good firefighter and John possessed all of these, and as most of us know, he also had a pretty good sense of humor and was a great storyteller," Mr. Wyzomirski said.
Chief Walsh was also remembered for his resilience.
Early in his career, he returned to service after suffering severe injuries, including third-degree burns to his arm and back, when he came into contact with a live electrical wire while fighting a blaze on East Carson Street in 1994.
"Some didn't think he was going to recover," Mr. Wyzomirski said. "As he was being taken away in the ambulance, John told his fellow firefighters, and I quote, 'I'm still here and I'll be back.' And he did come back and excelled at his job for another 30 years. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the epitome of a firefighter. That is Johnny Walsh."
Mr. Wyzomirski got choked up at times while delivering the eulogy, including while describing the close relationship he and his wife had with Chief Walsh and his wife, Mary Lynn. Their wives, he said, would often roll their eyes when the firefighters began regaling tales from work.
"They'd pretend to laugh at our stories just to humor us," he said. "Then on the way home, [my wife and I] would always say how great of a couple they are. As Forrest Gump would say, they were two peas in a pod."
With a smile, Mr. Wyzomirski also recalled the respect Chief Walsh offered others, as exemplified in the way he reacted after a bar manager in Lower Manhattan proudly — but unknowingly — offered them a cold case of IC Light beer following a funeral for a New York City firefighter.
The beer tasted terrible, he said, but they didn't want to seem ungrateful for the gift — which was offered on the house.
"Now we have a dilemma — to drink or not to drink — do we embarrass the bar manager or suck it up?" Mr. Wyzomirski said.
After looking at each other for a sign of how to proceed, Chief Walsh made a decision.
"John says, 'drink up boys, this Iron [City Light] is great,'" Mr. Wyzomirski said. "We all followed suit and drank up one beer each, then one-by-one snuck to the bathroom and dumped the rest."
And even though Mr. Wyzomirski remembers he, Chief Walsh and their fellow firefighters ended up spitting, coughing, and throwing up outside after leaving the bar, he remains impacted by the way his friend reacted that day.
"It looked like we got tear gassed," Mr. Wyzomirski said. "It may not be the smartest thing we did, but it was the right thing to do. John led the way. In the fire service, respect is everything."
Following the eulogy Ms. Walsh was presented with the International Association of Firefighters Medal of Honor.
A bell was then rung in four sets of five rings — a tradition known as the "striking of the four fives," a series of bells that sounds when a firefighter dies in the line of duty to alert all members that a comrade has made the ultimate sacrifice.
It was done as far back as 1865, when the NYFD did so to inform the rank and file of the death of President Abraham Lincoln.
Rev. Kris Stubna, pastor of St. Paul Cathedral, then read a letter from Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik, who was unable to attend.
"While I cannot be with you in person, I am with you in spirit," the letter read. "I have such deep respect for our public servants whose dedication is so often overlooked. John was a dedicated firefighter for over 37 years. Throughout all that time his beloved wife Mary Lynn was his chief supporter and constant inspiration. He was held in high esteem by all with whom he has served. May God grant him quick speed to the place prepared for him in heaven."
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