SAN ANTONIO – Fallen San Antonio firefighter Greg Garza will be remembered this week through a variety of memorial events in his honor.
Garza's comrades at the San Antonio Fire Department remembered him Tuesday morning with an Honor Walk from the Alamodome to Main Plaza.
The start of the emotional and somber walk was led by firefighters from Station No. 1 who battled fires side by side with Garza. The firefighters held Garza's helmet during the procession.
Hundreds of firefighters from other fire stations joined their comrades in walking in silence for Garza. A pipe and drum brigade from SAFD and the San Antonio Police Department followed the group to the Main Plaza.
Garza, a 17-year SAFD veteran, died last week while he and other firefighters responded to a call at the Comfort Suites on the East Side near downtown. Garza was accidentally hit by a commercial van while he stepped onto the road.
Christopher Steele, president of the San Antonio Fire Union, described Garza as a gentle giant.
"He was loving and caring of others," Steele said. "Garza is looking down and wondering what he can do for you. It just show selfless and loving and giving he was. He loved being a firefighter."
SAFD Chief Charles Hood called the accident unnerving, saying this has been an incredibly difficult time for the department and Garza's family, but said they will find the strength to carry on.
"But we know people are going to call us," Hood said. "We run over 1,000 calls every single day. People are calling us as we are standing here right now. It's difficult. We are (a) resilient fire department. We are strong and we will recover from this."
Hood said the community can support and honor Garza with the gift of attention to firefighters and all first responders, especially paying close attention while driving near emergency scenes.
A memorial service for Garza will be held Wednesday at Porter Loring Mortuary on McCullough. A private visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m. followed by a public visitation from 5-6:30 p.m. A prayer vigil will be held at 7 p.m.
A private funeral service will be held at noon Thursday at Community Bible Church followed by a private interment.
A memorial account has been set up at Generations Federal Credit Union.