Hundreds gathered in Fleetwood to honor two fallen fire chiefs killed in the line of duty, as their legacy of service and community impact is remembered.
BERKS COUNTY, Pa. — A Berks County community came together in grief and solidarity as hundreds gathered to honor two fallen fire chiefs, remembered not only for their service but for the lasting impact they had on those around them.
Fire trucks lined the streets and ladders were raised in salute as departments from across Pennsylvania and beyond traveled to Fleetwood High School in Berks County to pay their respects to Walnuttown Fire Department Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Chief Robert Shick Jr.
“Some of these are local departments that are coming out and there are some coming out from different states and just kind of shows that, you know, it might be a two-, three-hour drive for some of these departments, but they understand what they’re making that drive for, and we appreciate it,” said Ryan Tyson with the Walnuttown Fire Department.
The two men were killed in the line of duty last Saturday, a loss that has deeply shaken the tight-knit fire community.
“It’s a big story and unfortunately it’s our department, and no department should have to go through it, losing two chiefs — losing one member in general,” Tyson said. “But the community comes together and everybody sticks together.”
In the days since the tragedy, support has poured in from fellow first responders, friends and neighbors, all showing what the two men meant to the people they served.
“They just made you laugh all the time. I don’t know, it’s kind of hard to describe,” Tyson said. “You had to know who they were to truly understand the people that they were.”
Beyond their uniforms, Buck and Shick Jr. are being remembered for their compassion and the way they made others feel.
“They dedicated their lives to helping other people. You don’t have to be in the position of a first responder to help somebody,” Tyson said. “It only takes a couple minutes to ask someone how their day is going, and that could make a big difference.”
That message is resonating far beyond Fleetwood, reminding the community to slow down, check in and take care of one another.
“Just take a couple of minutes to talk to someone and ask how their day is going because you don’t know when you can’t have that conversation,” Tyson added.
As their families, their department and an entire community say their final goodbyes, their legacy lives on in every life they touched.