Gina DeFalco, John’s fiancee, recieves helmut at memorial service for John Chipura, firefighter Engine Company 219 at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Staten Island. Gerard Chipura, John’s brother recieves flag.
(SCHUMANN, HEIDI)
Firefighter John Chipura died serving the city on 9/11. Nearly 16 years later, his family and colleagues want him to serve the city again — at least in spirit.
A grassroots push is underway to name a new Staten Island ferry boat after Chipura, who was killed when the Twin Towers collapsed.
The 39-year-old firefighter was assigned to Engine 219/Ladder 105 in Brooklyn when he was killed. At the time, he was engaged to be married.
So far, more than 5,000 people have signed two separate petitions — one on the website Change.org and another circulated to firehouses across the city — to name the third boat in the new Ollis fleet in Chipura’s honor.
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