On February 3, 1989, at 217 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn, John P. Devaney of Ladder Company 131 made the supreme sacrifice in the performance of his duty.

Each year, since his death, his family, friends and firefighters from across the city have paid tribute to Devaney, who received the Brooklyn Citizens Medal posthumously for his heroic actions.

This years mass, the 20th and final official mass for Devaney, will take place, once again, at Holy Name Church at 240 Prospect Park West on Saturday, February 7 at 11:30 a.m.

There will be a luncheon immediately following the mass at Shepherds Hall in the basement of Holy Name Church. All are invited to attend, and members of the FDNY are requested to attend in Class-A uniforms.

Devaney was a 1970 graduate of Xaverian High School. Over the years, in memory of Devaney, this group has raised thousands of dollars through such events as golf outings. Monies raised went to certain firefighter-related charities and a scholarship fund for a firefighters son at Xaverian.

— Tom Kane

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