Estimated 1,500 in attendance for funeral of #PGFD Firefighter-Paramedic John Ulmschneider aka "Skillet" #WTOP pic.twitter.com/OcPiJIKJPh
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) April 20, 2016
Fire Departments call the lining up of faithful a "Sea of Blue" #WTOP pic.twitter.com/h91IT3tBtX
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) April 20, 2016
Funeral today for #PGFD Firefighter-Paramedic John Ulmschneider aka "Skillet" #WTOP pic.twitter.com/FniG9U28A6
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) April 20, 2016
WASHINGTON — The Prince George’s County firefighter killed last week while responding to a 911 call has been posthumously promoted to lieutenant. It was announced at his funeral Wednesday.
“He lost his life doing what he loved,” Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker said during the funeral of Firefighter/Medic Lieutenant John “Skillet” Ulmschneider, 37, who was fatally shot last Friday.
Hundreds of firefighters from around the Metropolitan Washington region and from as far away as New Jersey attended the funeral mass at St. John’s Church in St. Mary’s County. So many were in attendance that a loud speaker projected the service to crowds outside, and a video feed showed the mass to hundreds seated on bleachers and foldout chairs in the gym of the school that adjoins the church.
During the funeral, Ulmschneider was remembered as being a gallon of gumption squeezed into a quart container with equal parts muscle, determination and silly. He was remembered as someone who wouldn’t just give you the shirt off his back, but his socks too.
“It is said that a good firefighter knows how, but a great firefighter knows why,” Baker said. “John knew why. His ‘why’ were the people he served. His commitment to service made him special and beloved.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan spoke at the funeral, and said Ulmschneider lived and died as a hero who will never be forgotten. Hogan and U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., each presented Ulmschneider’s family with flags flown over the U.S. and state capitols.
In addition to giving the family the flag that was flying over the fire department’s headquarters the day Ulmschneider was fatally shot, Prince George’s County Fire Department Chief Marc Bashoor also presented survivors with Ulmschneider’s Medal of Valor and meritorious service award.
