Westport firefighters, community rise in the name of fallen heroes

Come on up for the rising,

Come on up, lay your hands in mine,

Come on up for the rising,

Come on up for the rising tonight

-- Bruce Springsteen, "The Rising"

Out of tragedy, rose a note of redemption on Saturday night. A crowd of around 200 joined the Bruce Springsteen tribute band, "Lost in the Flood," at Bobby Q's Barbecue and Grill in downtown Westport for a rousing night of song and dance to raise proceeds for the families of the Bridgeport firefighters, Lt. Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michel "Mitch" Baik, who lost their lives while fighting a house fire on July 24.

Bobby Q's and "Lost in the Flood" are long-time supporters of local firefighters. Saturday night's event marked the sixth annual fundraising dinner by the Main Street establishment and the band for the Westport Firefighter's Benevolent Fund. In the past, the Benevolent Fund has directed proceeds from the fundraiser to local nonprofits, but the Westport Fire Department made a unanimous decision that the money raised on Saturday night should go to help the families of Velasquez and Baik.

"It was a no-brainer, and it was the right thing to do. We had to do this for the Bridgeport guys," said Assistant Chief Andrew Kingsbury.

He added that although his department's work is inherently dangerous, the loss of fellow firefighters is still extremely hard to bear.

Kingsbury's wife, Michelle, agreed and pointed out that the families of firefighters share the stress of the job as well.

"When he [Andrew] gets a call in the middle of the night, I stay up until he comes home," she said. "You never stop worrying."

Despite the somber backdrop to the event, the atmosphere at Bobby Q's was resolutely upbeat. Between sets by the band, Deputy Chief Jon Gottfried took to the stage to ask the crowd to remember Velasquez and Baik. After a round of applause to honor the fallen firefighters, the band launched into the Springsteen anthem "The Rising," with the crowd boisterously singing along.

Westport resident Monique Bosch was one of those who sang and danced to the rockers played by the band.

"I'm very glad to be here," she said. "It's good to see the fire department help their colleagues [in Bridgeport] this way."

Bobby Q's owner Bob LeRose said he was pleased with the turnout. He added that the fundraiser has become an important part of the restaurant's summer programming.

"This event is great for the community and great for the business. We always look forward to it," he said. "For us, it's the highlight of the summer."

And no one appreciated the occasion more than the band itself.

"Lost in the Flood" frontman Frank Bergonzi rated Saturday's fundraiser as "the best of all of them."

He credited Springsteen's music, especially the album "The Rising," which was written in response to 9/11, as a fitting way to remember Velasquez and Baik.

"I think the music resonates with everybody and puts it [the loss of Velasquez and Baik] in front of people's minds," he said. "I think the memory of them lives, and I think everyone got that tonight."