My husband and I had just returned home from a meeting with my sons councilor. My husband mentioned a hellicopter somewhere in the area. I started looking around the sky and saw not one, but, three helicopters in the air hoovering in the sky just north West of us. Husband came inside, went upstairs and turned on the scanner. Police were chasing someone in the vincinity of North Ave in Melrose Park. He believed the hellicopters were police hellicopters.
My eyes still gazed at the hellicopters and I'm like those are police hellicopters chasing a criminal. Wow. He went back inside and I continued to watch the helicopters. It was then that I heard my sister say,"Oh My God, Peggy."
I started to go inside and before I reached the door she said,"Stone Park Fire Engine was involved in an accident and one of our fire fighters died."
A shockwave of denial came followed by a sick feeling inside. I didn't want to rush to the fire department and bother them, but, I had to know which fire fighter had died and to let them know how sorry I was. I walked to the fire door and my hands were shaking. I started to ring the buzzer and all the time, I kept saying, no, this can't be happening. I was about to change my mind about ringing the buzzer, when the bay door opened.
Being stuck on words I said,"I just heard the news--one of our fire fighters died?
One of our fire fighters who was on duty at the time told me yes. I then asked who?
That's when he told me that it was Jeff Bergstrom. Shaking and tears in my eyes, I told them how sorry I was and that my prayers were with them.
At the time I wasn't sure who Jeff Bergstrom was. I knew his face and spoke to him several times, but, never caught the mention of his name. Inside my heart and in my soul, I knew it was Him--the fire fighter that we always teased about free car washes. The one who called me a good girl for wearing the t-shirt of the fire fighters raising the flag. The tall good looking guy who said boo to me the first time I met him. It was two days later when they showed his picture on television and I then knew I was right. Jeff was gone. I broke down and cried like a baby. I had a hard time dealing with it and all the time, I thought of his comrads, his family and his friends, how hard it was on all of them. After all, they were more closer to him, than I was.
On this day my prayers are with his comrads, his family and his friends. Pray that God will be with them and bring to rememberence the good things that Jeff did while he was here on earth and remind them of all the valuable lessons Jeff taught while here on earth. I hope and pray they find comfort of knowing that Jeff is resting in the arms of God, watching over each and every one of us.
JEFF BERGSTROM
April 27,2004
Second year Anniversary: April 27,2006.
with bitter sweet happy memories
And remembering the way you
Touched our lives.
The way you gave to your community
Serving and protecting.
A Part of you will always remain
Deep within our hearts.
We Celebrate the joy of life
Knowing your in Heaven
And one day soon, we will meet you there
And rest with you forevermore.