Hundreds of people gathered on Lake Road in Webster early Tuesday morning to remember the men who were lost in that ambush a year ago on Christmas Eve.
The service provided a dual purpose. Those who organized this remembrance of West Webster firefighters Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka say that the vigil and the prayers served as both a way to remember their fallen colleagues, and it also symbolizes a point from which they can try to move on.
Ken Smith is President of the West Webster Volunteer Fireman's Association, and says it is tough day for everyone in his department.
"Most of us have marked today as being the end of all the bad stuff, we're looking forward to moving forward after today , it's time for all of us to move on with our lives as best we can, we're certainly never going to forget Chip and Tomasz and what they did for us and for the community."
The vigil was held on Lake Road, in the pre-dawn hours, at around the same time of the horrific events of a year ago.
Even with the frigid winds, many people participating held luminaries to commemorate the lives of the firefighters who were lost , and the two who were injured, and many of those in the fire department and other local residents say it's time to reclaim that land along Lake Road for the West Webster community.
