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ISLIP, Long Island (1010 WINS) -- Firefighters gathered for a second day of mourning Saturday, paying their respects to a veteran colleague killed during a Bronx blaze, the day after the funeral for a rookie firefighter who also lost his life.
Today's emotional service for Lt. Howard Carpluk, 43, was held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Islip, Long Island.
The 20-year veteran of the city's fire department was killed along with rookie firefighter Michael Reilly, 25, on Aug. 27 when they were trapped in debris after a building collapse.
Carpluk was actually assigned to another company but had been working with Reilly's company for that day.
Carpluk was appointed to the fire department on Aug. 2, 1986. During his career, he was awarded two citations for bravery, including one for a rescue on March 30, 1988, when he saved the lives of two unconscious men he found in the bedroom of a fire-engulfed apartment in the Bronx.
He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 10 and 14. His fellow firefighters set up a Lt. Howie Carpluk Memorial Fund to help the family.
On Friday, in the town where he took his first steps into public service, thousands of mourners wept and laughed as they remembered 25-year-old Michael Reilly Reilly.
Thousands of firefighters filled the streets of the small town leading to St. Paul Roman Catholic Church.
Reilly's casket rested on top of a New York City fire truck from Engine 75, his company in the Bronx. It was preceded by another fire truck that was stacked high with flowers and had his fireman's coat draped across the front fender. A bagpipes brigade played "Amazing Grace" in the street as the flag-wrapped casket was brought into the church.
The common thread that ran through most of the reminiscences was of a focused and determined young man who possessed a lighthearted side that manifested itself in the form of numerous practical jokes.
In his eulogy, Mayor Bloomberg expressed the gratitude of 8 million New Yorkers "who know that Michael is a hero in the real sense of the word.''
Bloomberg had met Reilly eight weeks before when he graduated from the New York fire academy.
"Sadly, we will never know how high his dream would have taken him,'' Bloomberg said. ``He did not live half as long as he should have, but the fire inside burned twice as bright.''
"You were always in a good mood when you were around him," said Shawn Viscardi, of Pemberton, who served with Reilly in Iraq from August 2004 to February 2005. "He could always bring you back up with a practical joke. But when the job had to be done, he was serious. He was an outstanding Marine."
Reilly started his career as a 16-year-old rescue squad volunteer in Ramsey. He had graduated in the top 5 percent of his class from the New York fire academy in early July and was still in his probationary period when he died.
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