He was there to recollect the heroic acts of a firefighter under his command that night 43 years ago, John Bruton Sr. Later that year, a fire in the Fauquier County, Va., garage of his oldest son, John Bruton Jr., destroyed Bruton’s scrapbooks, his fire boots and helmet, and the gold medal. ADRecently, Bruton Jr. approached the fire department to see whether it might have a replacement medal. ADADHealth issues kept Bruton Jr. from attending in person, but he watched the ceremony as it was live-streamed over a phone. While the first engine on the scene — the first due — sets up in front of the building, Engine 21 is often behind the building, in the alley.

Source: Washington Post March 29, 2021 20:55 UTC