Fallen Firefighter Honored at LHS Football Game

Lemont High School kicked off the 2010 football season with its annual Hometown Heroes Night on Aug. 27. Mission Possible, a student-led organization, hosted the game and honored police, firefighters, paramedics and other rescue teams of Lemont before the first varsity home game of the year.

A special memorial was held in honor of fallen Chicago firefighter Chris Wheatley, who died battling a fire in the West Loop on Aug. 9. Wheatley was a Lemont High School graduate (Class of 1997) and was a member of the school's football team.

Lemont Fire Chief Carl Churulo, who worked with Wheatley during his time with the Romeoville Fire Department, expressed his gratitude to Lemont High School for deciding to honoring Wheatley and his family during this year's ceremony.

"I think it was just very well done," he said. "You hate to see something like this happen, but the memorial did a great job of recognizing a life and it was appreciated by everyone."

Mission Possible arranged a picnic for the members of the Chicago Fire Department, friends and family of Wheatley, and the police, fire, and rescue teams of Lemont. It was a picture-perfect summer night, and the memorial took place after the sophomore football game.

The Wheatley family and friends, CFD, and hometown heroes of Lemont gathered in front of the home stands to honor the fallen hero. The 2010 varsity team signed and presented a football, a jersey, and gave flowers to Wheatley's mother.  A moment of silence followed, as a member of the Armed Forces honored Wheatley by playing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. 

Mission Possible hosts an annual Hometown Heroes night in order to say thanks to the men and women who work to keep the town of Lemont a safe place. Wheatley first became a paramedic in 2000, then joined the CFD in 2008.  He helped to organize the club Athletes Committed to Excellence at Lemont High School.

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