Strong Turnout for Firefighter’s Wake

A Chicago Fire Department truck with its ladder arcing over 103rd Street and an American flag flying in a bitter cold wind was the scene Monday as firefighters from around the region gathered to pay their respects to Chicago firefighter Edward Stringer Sr., who died in the line of duty on Dec. 22.

Hundreds of firefighters in their dress uniforms carrying or wearing white gloves gathered in the parking lot of Oak Lawn's Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, which had white Christmas lights strung on its facade.

A formal firefighters' walkthrough was scheduled for Monday evening, where firefighters were expected to file by the casket bearing Stringer's body and give a final salute.

Oak Lawn Village Trustee Tom Phelan put out a request to Oak Lawn residents to line both sides of 103rd Street east of the Blake-Lamb Funeral Home at 4727 W. 103rd St. at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Phelan wants residents to show their support for the fallen firefighter and his family, as Stringer's body is moved from Blake-Lamb to St. Rita of Cascila Parish for a 10 a.m. funeral mass.

The procession from Blake-Lamb will move east on 103rd to Western Avenue. Residents are asked to bring American flags or pennants.