The names of five men, including two from Newtown, were formally unveiled on the Connecticut Fallen Firefighters Memorial last weekend. The 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service was conducted Sunday, September 28, at the state’s memorial in front of Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.

The late September sun shone bright on the gathering of families and fire departments still in mourning for their members who died in the line of duty. Five wreaths were laid this year. Connecticut averages one or two annual average firefighter deaths.

Firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr of Wethersfield died on October 22, 2024, while fighting a large brush fire in Berlin. Firefighter Todd Gagnon of Cromwell died on May 22, 2020, from 9/11 related cancer. More recently, Firefighter Raymond Moreau died July 27 of this year from a fireground accident while fighting a house fire in Plainville.

There were two honorees from Newtown. Peter J. Blomberg, assistant chief of Botsford Fire Rescue, died last October 28 after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Church Hill Road, en route to the annual Board of Fire Commissioners meeting.

Lewis C. Durgy died August 8, 1933, from burns sustained when the Hawleyville firehouse burned down. This historic death from 92 years ago was discovered while Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company members were preparing for their 100th anniversary this year. Durgy’s family members from Brookfield were located and honored at the 100th anniversary banquet in August. A wreath was also laid on Lewis Durgy’s gravestone at Land’s End Cemetery in Hawleyville.

Family members from both the Blomberg and Durgy families were presented with glass memorial keepsakes during Sunday’s ceremony in Windsor Locks. The event was open to the public.

In addition to members of Botsford Fire Rescue and Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company, Dodgingtown and Sandy Hook fire companies also had members in attendance last weekend.

This brings to four the number of Newtown firefighters who have died in the line of duty. The two who were added to the memorial in previous years were Newtown Hook & Ladder’s Steven Sauter, who died while fighting a house fire on Gray’s Plain Road on October 31, 1973, and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company Chief William Halstead, who died July 8, 2022 following a call earlier in the day.