The FDNY on Tuesday honored Lt. Christopher Raguso, who died last week along with six other US airmen when their Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in western Iraq.
Raguso’s colleagues and family remembered the firefighter and National Guard flight engineer with a solemn ceremony at Engine 249/Ladder 113 in Flatbush, Brooklyn — where he served for eleven years.
More than a hundred mourners gathered at the station house, where purple and black bunting was placed across the facade in honor of the fallen firefighter.
During the ceremony, his father John Raguso spoke about his son’s devotion and bravery.
“Chris was the consummate first responder who dedicated his life to helping others,” the father said, according to WCBS-TV.
“Whether leading a squad of firefighters into a burning building, chasing a hurricane in Texas or Puerto Rico, or flying fearlessly into harm’s way to rescue a wounded soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, service to his community and his country were the unshakable building blocks during his 20-year professional career.”
Also killed in the helicopter crash was fellow FDNY member Christopher Zanetis, who joined the force in 2004.




