THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603240051
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Long : 136 lines
For a second day, a procession of fire trucks from throughout the nation - one draped in black and bearing a coffin - rolled slowly through the city as citizens stood respectfully at curbsides, some with hands over hearts.
For a second day, a widow was handed a carefully-folded American flag. Taps was sounded. And a mother wept.
For a second day, this city grieved.
``John Hudgins Jr. exemplified the best qualities of the fire department,'' Chief Michael L. Bolac, barely able to restrain his emotions, told mourners. ``He believed in them and he lived them.''
Hudgins, 32, a 10-year veteran of the fire department, and another Chesapeake firefighter, Frank Young, 38, were killed Monday when falling debris trapped them in a burning auto parts store on Indian River Road. Their bodies were found side-by-side.
Young was laid to rest Friday. On Saturday, in strikingly similar rites, Hudgins' comrades said farewell at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be buried in Utah.
Hudgins, twice honored in 1993 for saving lives and a recipient of four letters of commendation since 1990, was, most of all, a family man.
``He was an excellent dad; he loved his son and he couldn't wait for his son to get older so they could play ball together,'' said John Williams, who had hired Hudgins as a part-time delivery driver. ``He talked so much about his wife and son, and how much he loved them . . . His eyes would sparkle when he talked about them.''
Hudgins spent most of his off-duty time working odd jobs to provide for his son and his wife, who is pregnant with their second child and was studying to be a dental hygienist.
Hudgins spent the little free time he had on a softball diamond, where he excelled.
A standout on his high school baseball team, Hudgins grew into a skilled softball player and played on a firefighters' all-star team. He once broke his wrist making a diving catch in a national tournament.
In 1991, when the Chesapeake firefighters' team defected to a Norfolk league because of scheduling problems, Hudgins was one of the league's most consistent hitters, batting .520.
Saturday's tribute to Hudgins began as it had a day earlier for Young. A long line of red and lime-colored fire trucks weaved through a neighborhood to a church, this time in Great Bridge.
The sky was bright blue, but a brisk wind stole away the sun's warmth as the procession encircled the church.
Firefighters, normally a boisterous bunch, gathered silently. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Bostoners stood with their brethren from Poquoson; Richmond firefighters stood alongside those from Portsmouth.
``They are a family,'' said George Burke, a spokesman for the International Association of Fire Fighters. ``And they are grieving. It doesn't go away . .
Finally, Engine 3 arrived. In the passenger seat, a firefighter's turnout gear was neatly stacked, helmet atop - the firefighter's version of the Army's riderless horse.
From the back, an honor guard slowly lowered Hudgins' casket and carried it into the church. The American flag was removed, tightly folded and placed on a small stand. A huge arrangement of roses was set atop the casket.
Lined up behind the altar, more than 20 firefighters - Hudgins' comrades from District 1, A-shift - watched somberly. Mingling with the notes from the church organ inside were haunting strains of ``Amazing Grace,'' from bagpipes outside.
``He was never just one of my men. He was special,'' said Lt. John A. Harkins of Engine Co. 3, as he delivered a eulogy. ``He liked sports and I liked sports and a bond developed between us. It used to drive him crazy when a fat old man would beat him at one-on-one.''
Harkins recalled that, at the wheel of a fire truck, Hudgins ``always liked to go a little faster and take the curves a little tighter . . . I think my fingernail marks will always be on the dash of Engine 3.''
Then there was that 3 a.m. call from Hudgins. He had just returned from a fatal accident in which a teenager had died. It was his first such call.
He was hurting and wanted to know how Harkins coped.
``Johnny cared. It never got easy for him,'' Harkins said.
``Today, I say goodbye to Johnny,'' Harkins said. ``He is loved and his memory will live with us forever.''
As the service neared its end, Allison Hudgins accepted an IAFF gold medal in her husband's name.
The names of both firefighters will be added to the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado Springs.
``This is the most dangerous profession in America,'' said George Burke, the IAFF spokesman. ``All too many firefighters die in the line of duty.''
While almost every Chesapeake firefighter was at the services Friday and Saturday, the city's residents were not lacking for protection.
Firefighters from throughout the region, who might otherwise have attended the funerals, instead paid tribute by taking on the duties of their Chesapeake comrades. Fire trucks from throughout Hampton Roads and Northeastern North Carolina filled in at every station in the city.
As Saturday's funeral ended and people were leaving the church, a fire truck roared down Battlefield Boulevard, its siren wailing. Fire trucks and ambulances dutifully joined other motorists in yielding as the Virginia Beach truck sped to a call. MEMO: Staff Writer Mike Mather contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Chesapeake Fire Chief Michael L. Bolac stands at attention during
taps at the memorial service for fallen firefighter John Hudgins Jr.
on Saturday. ``John . . . exemplified the best qualities of the fire
department,'' he said.
Photos
LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Pallbearer, friend and colleague Gary Burke kisses Jordan Hudgins,
3, the son of John Hudgins Jr., one of two Chesapeake firefighters
killed last week when falling debris trapped them in a burning
store. Fire crews from around Hampton Roads paid their tribute to
John Hudgins Jr. by filling in at Chesapeake stations so his
co-workers could attend his funeral.
At Saturday's funeral, Hudgins' wife, Allison, wept between her
parents, Terry and Arlene Smith. Her sister, Tracy Redford, is at
left. The service was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Graphic
DONATIONS
A memorial fund has been established for the families of Young and
Hudgins. Donations can be dropped off at Advance Auto Parts stores
or made payable to the Chesapeake Fire Department Memorial Fund and
mailed in care of NationsBank, P.O. Box 13401, Chesapeake, Va.
23325-0401.
A program to benefit ``The Children of Fallen Fighters Scholarship
Fund'' will be held a t Blakley's in Great Bridge, Thursday. Doors
open at 6 p.m. For information, call 482-2121.
KEYWORDS: FIRES FATALITY MEMORIALS by CNB