Excerpts from the telegraph.com:
Hundreds of firefighters representing departments on both sides of the Mississippi River and as far away as the Chicago area joined mourners at funeral services for Godfrey Fire Capt. Jake Ringering Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Henry Street and some surrounding streets were barricaded off at about 8 a.m. as mourners arrived, and more than 180 emergency vehicles ranging from cars to aerial ladder trucks were lined up for the processional.
Ringering was killed March 5 when a portion of brick structure collapsed at a Bethalto house fire. The Godfrey Fire Protection District was one of several departments providing mutual aid at the blaze, which is still under investigation.
Firefighter Luke Warner, who was also injured and underwent surgery in St. Louis for two broken legs, was among those attending visitation Monday and the service Tuesday.
For the firefighters attending the funeral from many different departments, it is about tradition and brotherhood.
The funeral mass began at about 10 a.m., and people started gathering at the intersection of Piasa and Broadway by about 12:30 p.m. A number of people were carrying flags.
The procession, which included more than 180 emergency vehicles ranging from police cars to aerial ladders, left the church at about 12:30 with Ringering’s casket on top Godfrey Pumper No. 1410, followed by other Godfrey Fire apparatus. They were followed by the East Alton and then the Alton Fire Department.
The procession made its way to Valhalla Memorial Garden for graveside services.
