The "Ladder of Light" sculpture, created by local artist Paul Kuhn, served as a new focal point of the Naperville Fire Department s annual fallen firefighter memorial ceremony Thursday night.
Naperville memorial service to honor fallen firefighters
Updated 5/24/2021 4:35 PM
The Naperville Fire Department will honor fallen firefighters Thursday night with a memorial service at the city s new Ladder of Light sculpture.
The ceremony is scheduled for 8 p.m. at 1072 W. Jefferson Ave. in remembrance of the four members of the fire department who died in the line of duty: Lt. Richard Rechenmacher, engineer Jerry Herring and firefighter Bernard Petrowski were killed in a fire truck crash 50 years ago, and Lt. G.S. Winckler died during a training exercise several years later.
The Ladder of Light memorial, created by Naperville artist Paul Kuhn and dedicated last December, depicts a firefighter climbing a ladder that is visible only at night, when beams of light shine from beneath the base. The sculpture is the 51st piece of public art sponsored by the Century Walk Corp.