SERVICE INFORMATION

 
 
Memorial Service Announced for Fallen Firefighters
 
 
For Immediate Release       Contact: Vice President Tim Taggart 
September 26, 2016            302-750-8936

Email preferred - 1590iaff@gmail.com 

 
The Wilmington Firefighter's Association, Local 1590, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the Wilmington Fire Department have announced plans for the memorial service honoring Lieutenant Christopher Leach and Senior Fire Fighter Jerry Fickes Jr., who gave their lives in the line of duty on September 24, 2016.
Memorial Service
After consultation with the families, the joint memorial service will be held at 1pm on Saturday October 1, 2016 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, located at 815 Justison St. Wilmington, DE. Link: www.centerontheriverfront.org
This will be the main service honoring Lt. Leach and Senior Firefighter Fickes and is open to all fire fighters, first responders, friends and the public. Doors will open at 12:00pm. This will be the only event where departments will be able to stage their apparatus as part of a static display of honor.
Funeral Services
Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes Jr.
There will be a public viewing at the Grace Lutheran Church, 2033 Graves Rd., Hockessin, DE on Thursday September 29th from 5:00-8:00 pm. Fire personnel are asked to pay their respectsduring this time. 
A second viewing will occur from 2:00-4:00pm on Friday September 30th, with a private service to follow immediately afterwards. It is requested that this event remain one for family, friends,and members of the Wilmington Fire Department. Seating and parking will be extremely limited at this church.
Lieutenant Christopher Leach
Services will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 809 S Broom St. in Wilmington on Friday September 30, 2016. The day will begin at 10am with a viewing that will be open to family and friends, the Wilmington Fire Department and local first responders. It will be followed by a funeral mass starting at 12 noon.
In addition, honor guards, as well as pipes and drums, are invited to attend. The parking, staging, contact e-mail and report times for the outside departments are as follows:
Honor Guards
Public Safety Honor Guards from all departments are welcome at the funeral mass for Lt. Christopher Leach on Friday, and at the joint memorial service on Saturday. We ask that you e-mail Griff Jordan at gjordan188@gmail.com if you plan on participating, include the mode of transportation (car-bus-van) and how many members are attending.
For the funeral mass, we ask that you arrive by 8:00 am at the church.
For the joint memorial service, we ask that you arrive no later than 10:30 am (parking lots open at 8:00 am). You will be parking in Lot A and be part of the opening ceremony. Please note, there may be extra security procedures put in place that will require an earlier arrival time. Please check the web site at www.wilmingtonfirefighters.org for the latest logistic information.
Pipes and Drums
Pipes and Drums from all departments are welcome at the joint memorial service. We ask that you e-mail Mike Khairzada at mkhairzada@comcast.net if you plan on participating, and include the mode of transportation (car-bus-van) you have and how many members are attending.
We ask that you arrive no later than 10:30 am (parking lots open at 8:00 am). You will be parking in Lot A and be part of the opening ceremony. Please note there may be extra security procedures put in place that will require an earlier arrival time. Please check the web site at www.wilmingtonfirefighters.org for the latest logistic information.
Outside Fire Fighters with Apparatus
If you plan to arrive at Saturday’s joint memorial service on fire apparatus, please enter Lot B no later than 10:00am (parking lots open at 8:00 am). You will be positioned at the venue for a static display for the arrival of the families and the public.
It is requested that no outside apparatus attend the funeral services.
Outside Fire Fighters and other First Responders
Outside fire fighters and first responders are asked to arrive at the Chase Center no later than 10:30 am. Upon arrival you will be directed to specific parking and then to the entrance for seating inside the venue. Doors will open at 12noon for a 1:00 pm start. Please note there may be extra security procedures put in place that will require an earlier arrival time. Please check the web site at www.wilmingtonfirefighters.org for the latest logistic information.
Media Logistics
The media is welcome to attend the funerals and memorial service with some limitations to access. For the joint memorial service at the Chase Center, designated media parking will be in Lot D. There will be a riser inside for credentialed print media and still photographers. A pool video feed will be supplied for television media.  Any questions should be directed to Mark Treglio from the IAFF at ?(202)-368-7315? or mtreglio@iaff.org.
For the funeral services at St. Elizabeth’s Church a pool television camera will be allowed in the church choir loft (balcony). There will also be an accommodation for credentialed still photographers at this location. There will also be a designated area outside the church for both parking and viewing the arrival and departure at the church. The media setup should occur no later than 8:00am.
For the funeral service at Grace Lutheran Church, there will be no media allowed inside. There will be a designated media area near the church.
The funeral homes and cemetery are closed to the media.
Fund for the Families Established
There has been a fund set up for the children of Lt. Leach and Sr. FF Fickes. This is the only recognized, official fund that will benefit the families. On-line donations may be made to: www.gofund.me/iaff1590
Event Hashtag- #1590LODD