Thousands from out-of-state say goodbye

Trumbull, Conn. (WTNH) - The showing of support from firefighters who didn't even know these two men, has surprised many. It has been a sea of uniforms lining up all day to pay tribute.

"I can't fathom that he's gone, or Steve Velasquez is gone," said Lee Taylor a Bridgeport firefighter. "They went out together. It's still surreal that they're both gone."

Bridgeport Fire Station 711 is quiet, but the memorial continues to grow there. Even though it is meant to memorialize two fallen heroes, it speaks volumes as to the sacrifice firefighters make on a daily basis. "We always know when the bell goes off, that it's something we keep in the back of our head, and we never want to deal with," explained Asst. Chief Paul Wilson of the Shelton Fire Department.

It is a fraternity like no-other. The sea of people that flock to pay their respects is amazing. Some know one another, but many don't. However, all are connected by a single bond; the desire to help the helpless. "Every since I was two years old, that's the best way to describe it," said Leonard Carmichael, Jr. Battalion Chief of the Trenton New Jersey Fire Department. "I've always been a kid at heart, every firefighter has a kid in them. This is the best job in the world, and that's why we continue to do what we do, even though there's tragic lessons like this."

It is time to pay respects, to remember and to honor everyone who puts their life on the line everyday. "It takes a special person to be a firefighter," added Carmichael. "Most importantly, it takes a special person to put their life on the line for someone they don't even know."