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Former Pennsylvania State Representative Gaynor Cawley presides over the unveiling of the Benjamin Franklin Firefighter Memorial on May 7.
Stephanie Longo photo / For Go Lackawanna
SCRANTON – In February 1959, Scranton Firefighter William Durkin was returning to headquarters after fighting a big blaze when duty struck once again; little did he know that his second call that evening would be his last.
“He had been out to a grass fire, as I remember it,” recalled Durkin’s granddaughter, Ann Pusateri of Dickson City. “They were out fighting a big fire all night long and when they came in, they got another call and had to go out. It turned out to be a small grass fire that was almost taken care of so they weren’t needed and were sent back.
“On his way back, he took a stroke while behind the wheel of the fire truck,” Pusateri continued. “Between him and the other firefighters with him, they were able to bring the truck under control and pull over and he was rushed to the hospital, where he died.”
Now, 52 years after his death, Durkin, along with 25 other firefighters from the city of Scranton who lost their lives in the line of duty, is remembered on a monument outside of fire headquarters on Mulberry Street that was dedicated on Saturday, May 7.
The idea for the Benjamin Franklin Firefighter Memorial was born through conversations between city Controller Roseann Novembrino and the late Paul Arzonica, a resident of the Mulberry Towers apartments, located near fire headquarters, who felt it was necessary to show appreciation for firefighters who died while trying to save others.
The memorial is named for Benjamin Franklin who, in December of 1736, organized the first fire department in the United States, known as “The Bucket Brigade”.
Novembrino recalled one discussion with Arzonica that led to the inscription that is now on the base of the monument.
“Firefighting is not just a job, it is a calling in life. No one is a stranger in the eyes of a firefighter,” Novembrino said during the monument dedication. “When we were going to design the monument I said to Paul that we needed something very strong at the base and this is what he came up with and I made sure, in honor of Paul, this was there. This statue symbolizes our true love for the men in blue.”
The bronze monument depicts a firefighter rescuing a child and lists the names of the 26 Scranton firefighters who died in the line of duty as well as the firefighter’s prayer, which was read at the dedication ceremony.
Linda Robeson, whose husband, Capt. James Robeson was killed during a fire in January of 2008, expressed the importance of the memorial.
“It means a lot to us to have this memorial, especially since he was stationed here at headquarters,” she said. “It honors all of the heroes we have had here in the city. My husband has been honored in Colorado and Maryland at memorials there, but to have something close to home that we can come to so we can honor him is very nice.”
Former Pennsylvania State Representative Gaynor Cawley, who served as the master of ceremonies for the dedication, explained that although there is no state holiday for firefighters, the new memorial can help make every day a day to remember what they do for others.
“We know that we are grateful every single day for our firemen and policemen for putting their lives at risk for our own,” he said. “We really don’t need a holiday but hopefully the citizens of this city could give you a holiday by appreciating what you do.”
For Ann Pusateri, the memorial isn’t just for the firefighters who died in the line of duty, like her grandfather William Durkin. It is for all firefighters. Durkin’s great-grandson, John Ford, is a firefighter in Durham, N.C.
“We are here, certainly, to pay respect to our grandfather, but I think it’s a memorial for every firefighter,” she said. “I think they are remarkable people and very brave, whether they die in the line of duty or not. They put their lives on the line every day and they just want to save people and save property. I think they are brave and uncommonly good people.”
Final call
Scranton firefighters who died in the line of duty are:
• Firefighter Philip Biel, died 1911.
• Captain Henry Hines, died Jan. 1, 1912.
• Firefighter John Owens, died April 29, 1913.
• Firefighter Philip Biehl, died Nov. 22, 1913.
• Firefighter Christian Thauer, died Dec. 4, 1913.
• Fire Inspector Henry Reese, died Feb. 2, 1920.
• Firefighter Stanley Thomas, died Feb. 28, 1922.
• Firefighter Francis Noll, died Dec. 1, 1924.
• Captain Frank Wilcox, died Jan. 2, 1927.
• Lieutenant Hugh Flaherty, died Aug. 25, 1932.
• Firefighter Edward Thomas, died Jan. 4, 1934.
• Lieutenant John Reese, died Nov. 3, 1936.
• Lieutenant Fred Snyder, died Nov. 15, 1938.
• Engineer William Richards, died Sept. 13, 1940.
• Lieutenant William Jones, died Feb. 6, 1943.
• Firefighter Edward Kotzwinkle, died Dec. 24, 1943.
• Captain Thomas Evans, died April 30, 1944.
• Captain William Graff, died June 15, 1947.
• Engineer John Davis, died Nov. 7, 1947.
• Firefighter George Miller, died March 21, 1949.
• Captain Fred Keiper, died April 22, 1956.
• Firefighter William Durkin, died Feb. 7, 1959.
• Firefighter Robert Legg, died Jan. 21, 1973.
• Chauffeur Edward Poch, died March 1, 1977.
• Lieutenant John Buchner, died Nov. 4, 1981.
• Captain James Robeson, died Jan. 6, 2008.