Fox Riverbank Memorial to Honor 9-11 Firefighters & Two Local Volunteer Firemen Will Be Dedicated Tuesday in Algonquin

A press release from the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District:

On September 11, at 6:00 p.m., the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District will be dedicating their new Firefighters Memorial and honoring the memory of the two firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice by dying in the line of duty, the only two in the fire department’s history.

Also, the Firefighters Memorial will honor all who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

On April 5, 1967 Firefighter Edwin LeRoy “Roy” Benson died while advancing a hose line at a residential fire.

On May 23, 1976 Captain G.D. “Mac” McIntyre died while returning to quarters after an emergency incident.

By today’s standards and definitions, each of these incidents would be considered a Line of Duty Death.

Times were different back then.

Both men were “volunteers” with the department and responded from home or work when a call was dispatched.

Roy owned the Sinclair Gas Station at 7 North Main Street.

Mac worked for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and was also Civil Defense Director for the Village of Algonquin.

Roy was survived by his wife Katherine and sons Richard and Edwin Jr. Mac was survived by his wife Bette, daughter Kathy, and sons William and Daniel.

During their funerals, both were acknowledged to be volunteer firefighters, but there was no special honor or ceremony bestowed upon them or their families.

The guider which will be the centerpiece of the Algonquin Riverside Park Firefighters’ Memorial was shown the community at the Algonquin Founders Day Parade.

Eleven years have passed since the attacks on the World Trade Center, Flight 93, and the Pentagon. The lives lost on that fateful day will also be honored by the Firefighters Memorial. The architecture of the Memorial itself and a fifteen foot section of the World Trade Center will pay tribute to the almost three thousand lives lost on that tragic day.

This project has been entirely paid for by donations and fundraising efforts.

Some funds are still needed for the continued upkeep of the Firefighters Memorial.

If you would like to donate, checks can be mailed to: Algonquin Firefighters Association, 1020 W. Algonquin Rd. Lake in the Hills IL, 60156. If you have questions regarding the Firefighters Memorial, please email alglithffmemorial@gmail.com.

We would like to welcome our residents to attend this very special Dedication and Memorial Ceremony being held next Tuesday, September 11, at 6:00pm.

The Firefighters Memorial is located at Riverfront Park, 201 North Harrison St.


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