Members of the community joined firefighters from across the country on June 17 to pay final respects to Lieutenant Firefighter/Paramedic Matt Piontowksi of the Murrells-Inlet/Garden City Fire Department.
Lieutenant Piontkowski died June 9 in the line of duty. He began his career as a member of the Macedonia Fire Department.
Lieutenant Piontowski, a graduate of Nordonia High School, joined the Murrells-Inlet/Garden City Fire Department in 2018. The department is located in South Carolina. He was also a former member of the Horry County Fire Rescue.
A mass of Christian burial was held at St. Barnabas Catholic Church with A Ringing of the Bell and Last Call immediately after the service.
Bagpipes played Amazing Grace with drummers setting cadence as Lt. Piontowski’s casket was escorted to an engine for his final call. Flags draped across the blue sky from the ladder truck as the procession passed.
“Brother Piontkowski was a former president of our local. Brother Piontkowski has made an impression on each individual he has had contact with throughout his entire career,” according to a post on Murrells Inlet Garden City Fire Department Facebook page. “He will be truly missed, but never forgotten.”
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