Fireman's Park Re-dedication Jul 22
This Thursday July 22, 2010, the re-dedication of Fireman’s Park will take place. The re-dedication will honor those who have died in the line of duty and the hard work of the Evanston firemen in. The program will include remarks by Acting Fire Chief Greg Klaiber, Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and Alderman Delores Holmes.
Evanston Firefighters are hosting the re-dedication ceremony of Fireman’s Park in Evanston at the corner of Maple
and Simpson Streets on Thursday at 2 p.m. This ceremony is in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Evanston Firefighter/Paramedic Marty Leoni’s line of duty death at a fire at 1927 Jackson Street in Evanston on July 22nd, 1985. This ceremony also honors two other Evanston Firefighters: Firefighter William Craig and Firefighter George Stiles died during the discharge of their duties at the Clatyon Marks Fire at Dempster and Dodge Streets in 1905. 135 years of service from the Evanston Fire Department to the City of Evanston will also be recognized.
Evanston Firefighters Local 742 paid for the renovation of Fireman’s Park through fundraising efforts and the assistance from the community group “Friends of Fireman’s Park.” Evanston Firefighters performed the labor at the park at no cost to the city on their days off. Neighbors from the area also volunteered and assisted the Firefighters with the renovation of the park. Over $100,000 in renovations to the park were made.
The Associated Firefighters of Illinois Honor Guard will provide the Color Guard for the ceremony as well as bag pipes and drums. The Honor Guard will lead a procession from Fireman’s Park to the Hilton Orrington Hotel for a Fireman’s Ball and Retirement Dinner to follow.