BEVERLY — Bob King thinks about his late brother Patrick every time a fire truck passes by.
Tears froze to Bob King's cheeks Thursday morning as he remembered his younger brother yet again, this time at park dedication honoring both Patrick King and Anthony Lockhart.
King Lockhart Park at 10609 S. Western Ave. in Beverly is named for these two Chicago firefighters who died at the scene on Feb. 11, 1998.
The serene park with quiet benches and prominent statue of a child sitting on a fireman's shoulders was previously home to the Beverly Tire Store.
That's where a small fire quickly turned into a dangerous blaze. Thick, black smoke filled the air, and the roof collapsed. King and Lockhart, both 40 years old, died trying to put out the fire. A pair of bronze boots are placed in the park where each of their bodies was found.
"Both me and Pat knew that working on this job that something like this could happen," said Bob King, who retired from the Chicago Fire Department two years ago.
Lockhart was on the job for 9 years before the accident. He graduated from Dunbar High School, where he was the captain of the wrestling team. Lockhart was single and lived in the Fernwood neighborhood on the South Side with his mother, according to a Tribune report.
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) said the park honors the two fallen firemen in an area of the city where many firefighters, police officers, teachers and other public servants call home.
"From the word go, our community knew this would be a sacred place," O'Shea said.
Chicago Park District commissioner and chief executive Mike Kelly typically dedicates parks with swing sets and slides. King Lockhart Park is different. The park is set up more as a memorial and tribute to the city's firefighters.
"This is a park that I encourage everyone to use, to reflect, to pray," Kelly said.
Gina and Patrick King were married for eight years before the deadly fire. They lived in Brighton Park and dated for seven years before tying the knot.
On Thursday, Gina King said she was impressed with the park and struggled to believe the amount of time that had passed since her husband's death. He was a 22-year Fire Department veteran.
"They say time heals all wounds. That's not true," Gina King said.
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