An Oregon community paused Wednesday to honor a former U.S. Navy Seal who also wore Gresham firefighter turnout gear.
Firefighter Brandon Norbury suffered cardiac arrest Feb. 3 at the fire department's training grounds, KGW reported.
Despite immediate care from colleagues, Norbury did not survive.
"It gives closure, I think, to the fire service folks," said Fire Marshal for Lake Oswego and spokesperson for the memorial Gert Zoutendijk. "Obviously the family always want closure, we want to all pay our respects and find that closure."
Karen Javernick came all the way from Canyon City, Colorado to pay her respects.
"Brandon is from Canyon City, Colorado. We have known his family since he was a tiny little boy. We grew up with him, he knows our kids."
Even though she hasn't seen him in years, it was still very important to be at the ceremony.
"We just kind of lost contact but when we saw this we just felt that we had to do it," Javernick said.
Norbury had been a Navy Seal, then a Gresham Police Officer for seven years, and had been with the Gresham Fire Department for 15 years.
Retired Portland Fire & Rescue Captain Mike Glenn recalled: "His soul and his spirit connected when he joked with you, that was his way, those who were close to him understood that."
Firefighters, police, family members and community across Oregon have come together to honor Brandon Norbury, a firefighter who passed while training. Read more: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/gresham-firefighter-honored-memorial-service/283-fbfb25c1-7911-45df-9710-8dd003a57689 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/KGWNews8 Watch the latest KGW newscast: https://www.kgw.com/watch Get the KGW app: https://kgw.com/appredirect
