Thousands bid farewell to 2 heroes

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - It was a day of tributes and tears in Bridgeport Friday as funeral services were held for two firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Lt. Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michel 'Mitch' Baik died in a fire at a house on Elmwood Avenue nearly one week ago.

The service for Firefighter Baik was held at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church. Baik's casket, draped in red, was carried to the church atop the rear of a fire engine. The sound of bagpipes echoed through the afternoon air as the funeral procession made its way up Park Ave. past thousands of saluting firefighters.

Baik's wife, two sons and daughter followed his casket into the church. He was remembered not only as a firefighter but as a family man.

"I saw him as a good father, always in church with his wife and children and devoted to his mother," said Alicia Spiro, who was among the family friends attending the service.

"We are going to be here for the family, for the mom, I know the mom," said Layla Sakakini said.

The funeral service focused on Baik's lifelong faith, a Christian faith that guided his career change from computers to firefighting. "He will not be forgotten," Deacon Robert Klancko said. "What he has done is not going to be forgotten. This is part of the living faith."

The funeral for Lt. Velasquez was held hours earlier at St. Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport. An engine draped in purple and black carried his casket past literally thousands of firefighters who lined the street in front of the church. Velasquez's wife and baby followed the casket inside. The Velasquez family is very active in the St. Augustine community, and people packed the church to honor that heroic sacrifice.

"Without counting the cost, they go in to save lives, to protect property," Bridgeport Bishop William Lori said. "I'm sure this is precious in God's eyes."

Following both funerals there was a ceremony at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Numerous roads in Bridgeport were closed for the funerals.

During the course of the services, Bridgeport fire station 711 was watched over by members of the Stamford Fire Department along with firefighters from a number of Connecticut cities and towns, so members of 711 could attend services for their fallen brothers.

"They asked for volunteers and a lot of us overwhelmingly, signed up to come up here and I was one of the luckier ones to come up here," said Captain Miguel Robles of the Stamford Fire Department.

"Those guys are volunteering their time and they're up I believe towards the Bridgeport-Trumbull area," Capt. Chris Zak said. "Four firefighters, one officer and they'll make sure everything is safe in Bridgeport."

The funeral services were expected to attract up to 10,000 firefighters from across the nation and Canada. Whether they came from one town over, or several states away, they all used the same word to explain why they were there.

"No matter where you are, we're all brothers, and when we hear about one of our brothers it's like family," said Capt. David Lenotti, Stamford Fire Dept. "When tragedy happens to them, it hits us all. We definitely all feel it."

“This is a brotherhood and it doesn’t matter where you are, if you lose one, we all lose one,” David Price, Anne Arundal Co., Maryland, Fire Department, said.

“Basically the fire department is a big brotherhood," said Capt. Chris Zak, Milford Fire Department. "We’re here to support not only the family of the two individuals that we lost, but we’re here to support the Bridgeport Fire Department."

"My seven year old son Aiden, said to me the other day after I told him I was going to a funeral, he said, did you know the guys well? And I said, no, I didn't know them at all. But they were like brothers to me," said Lt. Gary Cole of the New Haven Fire Department.

The tributes, flowers and condolences have been coming all week, and continued with the two wakes yesterday. "You never realize how lucky you are to have them, until you lose one," said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch.

Lt. Velasquez is from Minnesota, was a firefighter in Maryland and spent the last 16 years in the Bridgeport Fire Department. He earned several medals and citations and earned a reputation as the kind of fireman you'd want around if your house was on fire.

Firefighter Baik was a local Bridgeport boy who spent most of his life working with computers, at one point teaching computer skills to the unemployed. He found his true calling well into his 40's and joined the fire department just two years ago.

The State Fire Marshal's Office continues to investigate the cause of the fatal fire. Investigators were back out at the scene on Elmwood Avenue this week asking questions.

Also still under investigation is whether the third floor apartment was added illegally. Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch told News 8 it is a problem in the city, but one that is hard to enforce.

Both families had assistance in planning and coordinating the services from the Statewide Honor Guard, which exists just to