Firefighters from the city of Binghamton took time Thursday to remember the lives of three of their own. Firefighter John Russell, Fire Chief John Cox and Captain Donald McGeever died during a river rescue at Rockbottom Dam in 1975. Vince Briga reports.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The community gathered Thursday to continue remembering three firefighters who lost their lives more than 40 years ago.
The three died during a river rescue at the Rockbottom Dam in 1975.
That September, crews were responding to a report of two kids in the river when their boat was swept up in the dam. The children were brought to safety while firefighter John Russell drowned.
The next day, Chief John Cox and Captain Donald McGeever went to look for Russell's body, but eventually drowned during their search.
Russell's widow says while his life was cut short, her husband achieved all he ever wanted.
"He said to me, if I can save even one person while I'm on the fire department then it'll all be worth it. And that's the kind of person he was, very loving and caring and just a great guy," said Pat Russell-Ackerman.
City Council passed a resolution to build the monument in 2006, but no actions were taken until about a year ago when officials broke ground.