Illinois firefighters honored for service in annual ceremony, memorial
[May 13, 2026]
By Jenna Schweikert andUIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR)
Dozens of firefighters from across Illinois were honored for acts of
bravery and service in an annual ceremony in Springfield on Tuesday.
The honorees included Chicago Fire Department Captain David Meyer, who
died from injuries sustained while battling a garage fire in April 2025.
Meyer was remembered in a memorial service at the Illinois Fallen
Firefighter Memorial on the state Capitol grounds.
“It’s my sincere honor to stand with you today as we remember your
brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the line of duty,” state
Attorney General Kwame Raoul said at the memorial. “May the valor and
profound sacrifices shine as a legacy for future firefighters. Our
prayers are with you for your strength and continued fortitude.”
Comptroller Susana Mendoza was unable to attend, but a spokesperson read
her speech: “My heart is with the families and all the others who have
lost loved ones in the line of duty. … You all carried the weight of
this calling alongside them, and this memorial honors your sacrifice as
well.”
“Let us all remember the countless ordinary moments through which he
(Meyer) and others we have lost did extraordinary good,” Mendoza’s
speech read.
The event continued at the Bank of Springfield Center, where firefighter
and EMT Kevin McNicholas of the Chicago Fire Department and firefighter
and paramedic Gino Casciola of the Addison Fire Protection District were
awarded the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the highest award
given to firefighters by the state, for an act of outstanding bravery
beyond the call of duty under adverse conditions with extreme personal
risk.
Three individuals — Normal Fire Department’s Lt. Matthew Hill and
firefighter and paramedic Nathan Riordan, and Elmwood Park firefighter
Derek DeRose — received the Medal of Valor for acts of heroism or
bravery demonstrating dedication in the face of danger.
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Members of the honor guard march at Tuesday’s memorial for Capt.
David Meyer. Meyer was among those honored in an annual ceremony
after he died in 2025 from injuries sustained battling a garage
fire. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
Thirteen individuals received the Firefighter Excellence Award for acts
of service demonstrating excellence while on duty. These were Lt.
Richard Kraus of the Alsip Fire Department; firefighter and paramedic
Andrew Highbaugh of the Channahon Fire Protection District; Lts. Jason
Irwin and Steve Koenig of the Chicago Heights Fire Department;
firefighters Jeff Joncha, Kellen Kmiecik and Nick Mourning of the
Elmwood Park Fire Department; Battalion Chief Dan Berta of the Joliet
Fire Department; firefighters and paramedics Cody Boll and Chuck Crudele
of the LaGrange Fire Department; Lt. and paramedic Mark Hogan of the
Orland Park Fire Department; firefighter Austin Muench of the
Springfield Fire Department; and Fire Chief Tyler Gee of the Washington
Fire Department.
Six units of the Bolingbrook, LaGrange, Marion, Monmouth, River Grove
and Springfield Fire Departments received Unit Citation awards for
demonstrating excellence, teamwork and professionalism in service. And
Captain Joshua Mifflin from the Springfield Fire Department received a
certificate of recognition acknowledging dedication to the principles
and traditions of fire service.
Nominations for the awards were reviewed and winners selected by the
Firefighting Medal of Honor Committee.
The Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial was dedicated in 1999 and is
maintained by the Firefighting Medal of Honor Committee and the
Firefighter Memorial Foundation. Funding is provided by donations for
memorial bricks that are placed in the memorial, and from the Illinois
secretary of state through a license plate program that honors
firefighters.
Capitol News Illinois is
a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government
coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily
by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
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