Excerpts from the chicagotribune.com:

Gordon Grand Pre has vivid memories of his first assignment as a Chicago firefighter in the 1950s. When he arrived at the burning three-story building, people were jumping from windows to escape the blaze. He initially froze but another firefighter patted him on the back and said, “Keep moving, they’ll jump on you, if you don’t.”

Now 93, Grand Pre sometimes struggles with his powers of recollection. But that memory stands strong in his mind.

Grand Pre, a resident of Arden Courts Memory Care Community of South Holland, has memory lapses, but he remembers those early years as a first responder firefighter like they were yesterday.

He had a chance to relive some of that excitement recently, when the South Holland Fire Department came to visit him for a “Hearts Desire” event.

While these were firefighters from the local department, they still sparked nostalgia in Grand Pre for his 35 years on the job.

His wife remembers when her husband left for a week-long firefighting stint during the Chicago riots of 1968 and she packed him a care package of soup, crackers, and candy bars. He carried the food in a sack tied to the end of a stick, like a hobo. 

After the firefighters arrived and greeted Grand Pre, they led him to the firetruck and took him for a ride around the neighborhood. His family stood by smiling and clapping.

South Holland Fire Chief Brian Kolosh said he was happy to receive the invitation to make Grand Pre’s day special.

“Once you’re in the fire service, you’re always in the fire family,” said Kolosh. “Whatever we can do as a fire department, we’re going to do to make it a memorable moment for him.”