EAST PEORIA, -- The city of East Peoria honors four firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty since the department was founded in 1903.
The 26th annual Firefighter Memorial Service honors these lives rather than seeing this as a time of mourning.
Georage Cornwell and Marvin Stein, who died in a fire in1959, Armando Ballerini died in 1972, and William Folmar died assisting a road accident while off duty in 1980.
Lieutenant Garry Grugan says there is a brotherhood felt among all in the fire service.
"Whether you know somebody personally that has died in the line of duty or you just know of them, there's a family that goes along with that," Grugan says. "It's truly like losing one of our family members."
The ceremony included recognition of this year's Fire Department Employee of the year.
The service coincides with national fire prevention month.
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