Today the York Village Fire Department mourned the loss of FF and former Asst. Chief Brian Starkey. Firefighters from all over New England escorted Brian’s flag draped casket along with several pieces of fire apparatus up York St. through York Village, under a pair of arched aerial ladders in front of the York Village Fire Station. It was a beautiful and hot July day, but there was a somber note about the entire day. It would be the last time we could give our Brother Brian a hand. 10 Pallbearers included York Village Fire personnel: Deputy Fire Chief Peter Humphrey, Captain Scott Apgar, Captain Paul Balentine, Lieutenant Nick Hilton, Firefighters Josh Allen, Mike Moores, Sanford, ME Fire Lieutenant Paul Dubois, Dr. Bob Brown, Kittery Police Patrolman Zack Harmon (a York Village Fire alumni) and Gary Mohr, Brian’s son-in-law. The funeral was held at St. Christopher’s Church on Barrel Lane in York Harbor with Father John Skeehan officiating. Father John is our official York Village Fire chaplain. Firefighters marched with the hearse and the apparatus to the First Parish Cemetery in the nearly 85 degree heat. In the graveyard, a short ceremony was held and then the funeral detail adjourned to the York Village Firehouse for another short ceremony including the striking of Box 3 “all out” for Brian Starkey on the bells and then on the whistle atop the firehouse. Light refreshments and Brotherhood after that.
Brian and his wife Bonnie have put countless hours into the York Village Fire Department and his contributions will be missed around here, he will be impossible to replace. We cant thank enough, all the firefighters who came forward to assist us in our time of loss. The crew of New Castle, NHÂ Engine 4, and Kittery Engine 1 who answered alarms while we attended the service. Also our Brothers to the north York Beach Fire and Ogunquit Fire who sent their Ladder Companies down to form the arch for the funeral procession. We really felt the strong Brotherhood of the fire service yesterday, and it was a beautiful thing to see firefighters with all different shoulder patches come together and stand side by side with us to help us honor our friend.
Thank You to Ray Pitts for the memorial Poster of Brian, Shawn and AJ St. Hilaire for the use of their photos and Joanne Balentine for the use of her photos.
