Noah R. Bombard
MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass.
WORCESTER, Mass. — Mourners gathered Monday to pay final respects to a hero.
Worcester Firefighter Lt. Jason Menard died in the line of duty on Nov. 13 while responding to a four-alarm fire on Stockholm Street in Worcester. Officials say Menard led one firefighter back to the stairs and pushed another out a window, saving his life, as the flames engulfed the three-decker home that had become an inferno.
The 39-year-old Menard leaves behind a wife, Tina, and their three children. The family was scheduled to leave for a vacation at Disney World on the day Menard was killed.
Thousands of firefighters marched from the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel on Plantation Street to St. John’s Church in Worcester Monday to honor Menard.
“The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks for your expressions of sympathy, caring, and compassion shown to us during these most difficult hours,” the program reads, in a message from Menard’s family. “Whether it was a prayer, a phone call, a visit, food, kind words or your presence, we want you to know how we are truly appreciative.”
In addition to the thousands of firefighters in attendance for the funeral, Menard was attended to by Worcester firefighter pallbearers.
Pallbearers included Worcester Firefighter Matt Berthiaume, Worcester Firefighter Jason Wamback, Worcester Firefighter Ryan Magee, Worcester Firefighter Brendan Coyne, Worcester Firefighter Jon Sturgis, Worcester Firefighter Josh Monfreda, Patrick McGoldrick and Ryan Murphy.
Honorary pallbearers included Worcester Firefighter Chris Kelly, Worcester Firefighter Lt. Trevor Frencic, Worcester Firefighter Ryan LaPrade, Worcester Firefighter Matt Luhta, Worcester Firefighter Tom Rodrique, Worcester Firefighter Andy Cavanaugh, Worcester Firefighter Tim Britt, Worcester Firefighter Chuck White, Worcester Firefighter John Callahan and Worcester Firefighter Tim Crey.
Michael Giangrande served as the helmet bearer.
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