CFD honors memory of firefighter on 1-year anniversary of his death

CHICAGO (WGN) — There were heavy hearts Wednesday at the Chicago Fire Department as loved ones and fellow firefighters remembered Drew Price on the one-year anniversary of his death.

Andrew "Drew" Price died at the age of 39 doing what he loved this time last year — fighting fires and protecting others.

"Gratitude, humility, appreciation. Those were the values that anchored him," said Lara Price, Drew Price's widow.

"We tried our best to make sure Drew's memory will never be forgotten," CFD Capt. Pat Gallagher said.

On Nov. 13, 2023, Price fell through a light shaft of a four-story building while fighting a 2-11 box alarm fire.

The funeral that followed and the outpouring of emotion showed a tangible sign of how many people admired and respected the fallen firefighter.

"I also pray that today is a source of comfort and support for the Price family and all those who loved Drew," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

A solemn ceremony was held at the Chicago Fire Academy, where Price's badge was placed on Chicago's Wall of Fallen Heroes.

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The day of remembrance ended at Halsted and Diversey Parkway, with an honorary bronze statue unveiled at the Lincoln Park firehouse where Price served. The statue depicted a jacket draped over a surfboard, reflecting Price's passion for surfing.

"For Drew, surfing wasn't just about catching a wave," Lara Price said. "It was about living in the here and now, finding beauty in life's rhythm, its ups and downs, riding whatever waves that life brought."

On a surfing trip to Hawaii, Price discovered the meaning behind "mahalo" — the Hawaiian word for gratitude — and made it his own personal catchphrase.

A year after his death serving the City of Chicago, Price's family, friends and co-workers greeted each other, honored his memory and bid him farewell through that one word.

"Mahalo, Drew."