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Saying farewell to a fallen firefighter Hundreds of compatriots pay respects to the family of the 150th city firefighter to die in the line of duty. Monday, June 21, 1999 By Johnna A. Pro, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
They came from far and near, the firefighters did.
Hundreds of men and women dressed in formal black. Others in blue work shirts. All wearing a single strip of black across their badges in honor of Paul McGrath, a Pittsburgh firefighter who died in the line of duty at an arson on Thursday.
Tomorrow, McGrath will be laid to rest with full honors by his comrades, becoming the 150th city firefighter to have such a funeral since John Coward died fighting a blaze on Nov. 22, 1883, in what was then Allegheny City, according to Capt. Donald Dorsey, treasurer of Firefighters Local 1 and the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau's historian.
Last night, at the William O'Brien Funeral Home on the North Side, it was a time for mourners to reflect as they came to pay respects to McGrath, 50, a father, an athlete, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and a staunch Irishman who lay in a green coffin replete with an Irish blessing, a pack of Marlboro cigarettes, a stuffed animal and a tiny bottle of Jim Beam whiskey.
"We want to express our collective, heartfelt thanks to the community -- even those we didn't know -- for their support," said Pat McGrath, a brother of the fallen firefighter. "It's heartening."
Members of the Pittsburgh Firefighters Ladies Auxiliary made 870 black memorial ribbons with the department's insignia. The turnout for McGrath's viewing Saturday and yesterday was so large that the women will have to make more for tomorrow's funeral.
"It's simple, but still. ... ," said Toni Salinetra of the North Side, whose voice trailed off as she was passing out the ribbons.
Pages were repeatedly added to the funeral home's guest book, which grew steadily from eight pages to more than 40. The initial order of 700 prayer cards went so quickly that 500 more were printed, according to the funeral home's Todd Smith.
By last night, Smith estimated more than 2,000 people had come to pay respects.
"Everybody had a story to tell and a memory and a way to express themselves," said Mary Beth McGrath, a sister-in-law, who was helping to greet the mourners.
Even before last night's viewing started at 7, firefighters began to gather around the funeral home, their trucks lining California Avenue.
The city's crews were there, of course. So were teams from Avalon and Sewickley, Monroeville and North Huntingdon.
"I had calls from as far away as Houston, Texas" Smith said.
Just before 8 p.m., Dorsey, called the group together.
A few minutes later, nearly 300 firefighters, all walking in pairs, began their march to the casket, led by Acting Fire Chief Pete Micheli and Firefighters Union President Joe King.
With military precision, Micheli and King approached the casket, lay white carnations in a white basket and saluted.
They took their places at either side of the coffin, then were followed by other firefighters in a solemn ceremony that lasted nearly 35 minutes.
The flowers, said Dorsey, symbolized duty, honor, service, sacrifice and resurrection.
At the end, the Rev. Bob Franca, the firefighters' chaplain, prayed for McGrath, whose family was then presented with a Bible and a medal.
McGrath suffered a heart attack while battling an arson at the former St. John's General Hospital complex in Brighton Heights Thursday.
Because the fire was an arson, Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht has ruled his death a homicide, and Jason Allen Best, 17 ,of Brighton Heights, was charged with homicide and arson.
Best is being held in the Allegheny County Jail.
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