Thousands gather for firefighter's funeral

So sad...my deepest sympathies to his family

Who is paying for the buses to the funeral?

Are all these firefighters getting paid for this? Good use of our tax dollars. There are other ways to show support.

I love what Joe Conway from Tewksbury said in the above article. He is right to show his son what a true hero is all about. Nothing agains our professional athletes ... but Kevin Kelly is the epitomy of an honorable man. God be with Kevin's family today.

How amazing was Joe Conway's message to his 11 year old son? I admire a parent for wanting to show a child what a REAL hero is. THAT is a parent giving an example.

My thoughts and prayers are in my heart. I wish Gloria and the girls much happiness remembering the memories of their wonderful father. I would not be here today if it wasn't for a fire fighter that saved my life when I was an infant back in 1979 in Somerville, MA during a major apartment fire. I went to St. Ann's School with the Kelley girls, and they were all nice, pleasant young ladies.

god bless you Lt. Kelley...thank you for all your years of service and for always being first in and last out

I don't recall reading about his family. Was he married, did he have young kids, if so, is there a scholarship fund people can contribute to? Maybe a small article about this would be nice. Thank you.

An Irish Prayer:
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Everything remains as it was.
The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no sorrow in your tone.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.

Rest in peace Lt. Kelley and God bless the Kelley family as they go forward.

I pay my respects to a man that risked it all and died doing his job. My prayers go out to his loved ones!

Iris S.

Why would you think that the firefighters are getting paid to be at a funeral? Of course they aren't. That is absurd. They do it because they are a family. That may be hard for some of you to imagine. You probably wouldn't go to a co-workers funeral without pay and that is truly sad.

Robert DeVore and Will.. I hope that you are in need of the services of a FireFighter someday, maybe then you will appreciate how much they do for the community, not just by putting out fires or attending to car accidents, but through their charity efforts etc. How Dare you say that Kelley's fellow collegues not be allowed to attend his funeral and pay their respects, are you telling me that your boss would not let your office take half a day off to attend a fellow employees funeral?. I feel sorry for you both, a man died serving his city and all you can do is complain about the costs of buses, and firefighters being paid while attending a funeral for their fallen brother.. Give me a break

are these firefighters on the clock?

what are these people saying with these over the top displays?

are these "heroes" so much better than the rest of us?

Is his wife going to sue?...

This is sad, but is there any other news happening today?

If I see one more firefighter on the main page, I'm going to read the Huffington Post!

:(

Who would comment with 'who paid for these buses?' or 'are all of these firefighters getting paid for this?' How could that even be something to think of?!? Firefighters risk their lives everyday to save us, including those that posted those comments. I don't know for sure, but I would imagine that the firefighters traveling to today's services are coming out of the goodness of their hearts, for their brotherhood, not for an extra day's pay!

My deepest sympathies to Kevin Kelley's fellow firefighters, friends, and especially his family. May he rest in peace.

What an elaborate funeral... It required hundreds of city workers and officers and buses; many roads shut down. So who pays for this? And what is the determining factor of whether a loved one deserves all of the city's resources? Can anyone do it?

It is truly tragic. However, we throw around the word "hero" too often. What exactly is heroic about being in a truck that barrelled through a children's learning center? If it were a private citizen, they would be cited, right?

Will and Robert.. You are disgusting! You are bringing up dollar issues rather then paying tribute and your respects to a man who would have risked his life saving your miserable one. And no they do not get paid to be there.. Its not overtime or they left their firehouse to go. These firefighters went on their day off to pay respects to a hero.. A word that will never be echoed with either one of your names attached.

Hey Robert Devore, FYI all these Fire Fighters are there paying there final respects on there own time. Its called comraderie. You are very ignorant and disrespectful to be thinking about cost effectiveness instead of honoring a man who gave the ultimate sacrafice for the city of Boston.

To the beancounters who remark about who is paying for what -- I am not a firefighter, and do not have one in my family; but one thing I know is that the firefighting profession is a brotherhood (and sisterhood). When a jake falls in the line of duty, it's like losing a family member; and I have absolutely no problem at all with paying tribute to a fallen firefighter like this.

I have had my issues with the Boston firefighters on other issues; but on things like this I am unreservedly behind them. Had I had time available, I might have been standing there in Quincy, today.

Robert DeVore - NO the firefighters do not get paid for attending the funeral. They are there because they want to show their support for the Kelley family.
God Bless the Kelley family.

to robert, no the firefirghters are not getting paid for this, they simply do this as an act of brotherhood and love and because they want to. it hurts every single firefighter and their family members when a brothers last alarm is sounded, regardless if they are in the same department or not.

my deepest sympathies to his family and love ones. God Bless.

Mr. DeVore,
No - the firefighters are not getting paid to attend the funeral. In some cases they have just worked a 24 hour shift and left the fire station at the end of their shift this morning to attend. Obviously you are not a firefighter and therefore do not understand the brotherhood that exists among these men and women.
God bless the Kelly family.

no these guys are not paid to be there, they go on their own accord, and the funeral is paid for by members and union dues

you have to be kidding me with those J#$%^&sses comments 2 and 3. Your are a miserable waist of lives, You should be ashamed to have printed those also Globe, I officially as of this day will never read another Globe, that is a complete lack of respect printing those two comments, and those two can rot in Hell, among Fire, with No Firemen to protect them forever. !

you people are sick asking questions about are they being paid and who pays for the buses. i hope your house burns down and no one comes to rescue you.

I can not fathom how someone could read an article as powerful as this and post a comment about money...How shallow are you? I truey feel sorry for the empty, pathetic and emotionally void life you must live. I doubt these fire fighters are paid to attend the funural...they are classy individuals who are paying respect to a hero. You could learn a lot from this article.

More importantly: A big thank you to all fire fighters.

RIP Lt. Kelley and thank you for your years of dedicated service. My deepest sympathy goes out to the Kelley family. As the daughter, sister, and granddaughter of police officers, I understand the scarifices family members must make when their loved one serves as a fire fighter or police officer. You are in my prayers.

Respect and honor are what I have for this brave hero. The Kevin Kellys of the world are a gift from God. Bless you Kevin Kelly and may you be wraped in our Lord Jesus' arms as we speak.

OK so he was killed coming home from a job in the company vehicle....and how does this make him a hero? And how come the talk of the drug testing of these "heroes" has dropped off the radar. When the Firefighters Union want something they are all mouth and media but when the city wants something back from them, they clam up.

Robert W. Devore and Will:
No one is getting paid for turning out to this funeral, how do you two low lifes live with yourselves after these kinds of comments? the cost of busing is minimal in comparison to the price Lt. Kelley paid in the name of the citizens of Boston.
Why is it so hard to believe that there may exist a brotherhood of men that are willing to come from near far to honor the life of a fallen brother? Step outside your shallow world for one day, maybe then you can shut your mouth, keep your shallow comments to yoursleves and let us grieve the loss of a family member.
God bless the Kelley family in their time of need.

"will" and "Robert W DeVore"

The union handles transportation and they're volunteers from two countries, or didn't you read the article before you jumped to conclusions?

Don't worry your pretty little heads, they'll keep doing their jobs despite ignorant people like you.

Show a little respect. Trolls.

There is nothing more sad than to witness, either as a participant or as a spectator, the funeral service of a fallen firefighter - a beloved husband and dad. It is a difficult and sad day indeed, for all of us. May he rest peacefully.

For those who are bashing the funeral of Lt. Kelley and asks "who is paying for the bussess and are these members on duty"? Get over it Pal!

Members of the fire service where ever thay are will come to bury a fellow Brother or Sister, that has died in the line of duty, regardless what it cost them. Most of these firefighters are sent by their departments and some are not but are their to show there respect. Some fire companies from outside Boston filled in the Boston houses so these member can attend.

I have been to funerals so many times I have lost count. I went because I wanted to and my department paid for me and others to attend to shpw our respect!

I bet you are one who complains because when we respond to an alarm of fire we run with the lights and siren on, regardless of the time of day. One day we will come to your house for a fire or medical call. I bet then you will have a better felling for the fire department!

I am sorry for Mr. Kelly's family. It is a tragedy for his friends and family.

However, I do not really understand people who are not related or did not know Mr. Kelly personally getting in on the act. It's like a professional mourning association.

In response to Robert DeVore,

I feel sorry for you that you are so jaded as to believe that firefighters do not truly care for one another or the families that are affected by this tragedy. When firefighters come to pay respect to our fellow colleagues, we do so of our own accord, and at our own expense.
Shame on anyone who thinks otherwise.

To Will & Robert above,
Who the h*ll cares who paid for the buses and the firefighters salary. At most, it personally cost you a fraction of a cent in tax dollars. Get a freaking life you losers. Somethings are about more then money

It's sad, yes...just as sad as losing anyone you love.

To all in here who question how this tribute was paid for - it was paid for with the sweat, blood, tears and sacrifice of generations of firefighters who have given far more than they have ever gotten in return. These people lay it on the line everyday for people like you - and some of them die doing it.

God rest you, Kevin Kelly.

In addressing that chuckleheads comment about firefighters getting paid . No they don't and you are an insensitive idiot for your heartless comment.. Hope you never need services from these brave men and women. They would still save your heartless arse.

Who is paying for the buses to the funeral?

Posted by will January 14, 09 10:31 AM

Are all these firefighters getting paid for this? Good use of our tax dollars. There are other ways to show support.

Posted by Robert W DeVore January 14, 09 10:31 AM

U people make me sick. A local hero tragically passed away in the line of duty possibly protecting people u love and care about, and all u can think about is your tax dollars. My brother happens to be a firefighter and is there on his DAY OFF and not getting paid, but chosing to honor one of his own. R.I.P

Robert W DeVore you are a jackass. These firefighters are here on their own time to show their support for a fallen brother. No one is getting paid to attend. The people getting paid today by OUR tax dollars are in the stations protecting you, your family and your property.

If you have an issue with city finances bring it up somewhere else - not here not now.

"Are all these firefighters getting paid for this?"

No, moron, they do this on their own time. Something that a money-obsessed jerk like you probably cannot understand.

I can't believe you people are talking about money when someone who risked his own life (and lost it) in order to save those of others every day. Come on, now.

With all due respect for the deceased, but how is this tragedy anymore than a bizarre truck accident! Our poor soldiers are overseas putting their lives on the line at every moment and barely anyone gives much notice!!

No, firefighters do not get paid to attend wakes and funerals of other firefighters. Nor are they paid to travel to wakes and funerals of other firefighters. I can't believe the heartless posts I've seen about firefighters since the tragedy on Friday, never mind on the day of Lt. Kelly's funeral. Some of the people posting on hear are heartless morons.

I cannot believe the comments by will and Robert DeVore! You have got to be the most heartless individuals!!! You obviously have no idea how close these firefighters are as a 'family'!! This was a terrible tragedy and one that should never have happened! I could care less if my tax dollars are paying for the firefighters who honored one of their own. I happen to be the proud mother of a Boston firefighter on the Rescue Squad and know firsthand what a dangerous job they have protecting everyone, even you two!

Those of you who are asking about the money, you are idiots. He is honored for what he did when he was alive, and the sacrifice he made to serve over 30 years. How he died is sad, but he was already a hero for how he led his life. A life led in service of others, risking his own personal safety to do so. He was also a role model and made a signifigant contribution to his community. His life was special and we are all blessed to have been touched by him.

The first two comments in this section sicken me. if you can sit there and honestly make this about money and tax dollars then you disgust me.

because when you run out of harms way ..............they run in. thats what makes them who they are and why we honor them.

because when you are running out .................they are running in.

stop responding to the dimwits....this is just what they want.....so worried about Boston tax dollars - wonder where their zip code lies....somewhere near the 128 belt, I'm sure....shame on the Globe - I know you don't post ALL comments, they are monitered

I am a Firefighter and I attended the Funeral today. I wasn't paid to attend. I took my own vehicle, on my time without pressure or assistance from my department. I attended the Funeral out of respect for the deceased and his family. In the Fire Department we look out for one another. Maybe some people can’t understand that. I have to depend on my coworkers in life and death situations. They are always there for me. I am a Firefighter because I enjoy helping people. I get a lot of satisfaction out of my job. I know I've helped people and I've saved lives. I love my job and wouldn't think of doing anything else. If your house was on fire, I would respond to it regardless of your political views.

Rest in Piece. But I hope in his death will bring about an end to the needless fire runs on medical calls. In which in most communities the other first responders EMS and Police are already on scene. This not only helps the environment but helps the fire service budget using less gas and wear on the engines and allow for more opportunities for maintenance. This progressive step should be done in his memory .

I'm a saleman and spend lots of time in my car. Will salesmen around new england get the day off to come to my funeral if I die " in the line of duty".

Robert Devore and will dont appreciate what firefighters, police officers or the U.S. service men and woman do for this country, they are the real hero's. Sad all you think about is the money... very sad

When Keven Kelley became a firefighter, he chose a selfless career in which risking his life for others was part of his job. He is honored by thousands today because of the life he led and the job he did so well for over 30 years. For that reason, he is a true hero. The fact that he died performing his duties is deeply sad, but he was already a hero - the day he became a firefighter. We all owe him and his family our prayers and our thanks.

To the Kelley Family:
My thoughts and prayers remain with you today and always. Even after the funeral and all the press has gone you are in the thoughts and prayers of many.
To the people posting these comments about money:
As a firefighters daughter let me see if i can sum this up. No the guys that attended the funeral were not getting paid. They are there because they chose to be. They pay for travel on thier own. They are there out of RESPECT. I also attended this funeral. Nobody asked me to. Nobody paid me to go. They are a family and unless you do this job or have a family member who does you can never understand. The firefighters go because it is one of thier own. I chose to go because I know that another firefighters child would do the same thing if it was my dad.

Its amazing at what some of you have to say. You want a hero's funeral? Take a job in which you risk your life for others in a profession that is close knit and full of traditon. If you are "lucky" enough to die on the job, you to can have all of these "benefits.`

Seriously, it's NOT---*NOT*---the same as 'anyone else you love' when a firefighter dies responding to a call...ridiculous the inflated sense of self-importance and entitlement I've seen in this thread.

I don't know any personally, but I greatly admire the traditions of the brotherhood of firefighters. Including the way they honor their dead--as they should be honored. My heart goes out to Kevin Kelley's family.