POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. (AP) - Ron Herens and his girlfriend, Rosa Campos, wrote down their short- and long-term goals to celebrate a year of new beginnings and promises this past January.
One of Herens’ goals was to become fire chief, Campos said during Herens’ funeral Wednesday afternoon.
Herens, a 23-year-old Marietta firefighter from Powder Springs, was killed by a suspected drunk driver while on vacation in Los Angeles with four other firefighters on April 11.
“He made me feel so safe and protected - always,” Campos said.
Wednesday, Herens’ family and friends celebrated his life at Trinity Chapel in west Cobb. Some of Herens’ family who live in the Netherlands were unable to attend the services, so they tuned into the city of Marietta’s livestream on social media.
With Herens’ casket situated between his Marietta fire gear and a photo of him in his uniform, his family and friends shared memories of the young man they described as having a sparkle in his eye.
“Behind those eyes, he was up to something” Marietta Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs said with a smile.
Herens would find tasks that needed to be done around his fire station, Gibbs said. One day, Herens’ fellow firefighters found him tinkering around in a firetruck to familiarize himself with where certain tools were located in the case of an emergency, Gibb said.
His mother, Cobi Koene, described her son’s love of motorcycles and physical fitness as well as his sense of humor. She said he fell in love with two-wheeled vehicles when his school bus driver kicked him off the bus, leaving him no option but to ride his bicycle to and from school. Herens later upgraded to a motorcycle.
Koene also shared stories about her son, like the time she caught him smoking a cigar in his room when he was 13.
“His dad made him finish it. He was a little nauseated,” Koene said making the audience laugh.
Firefighters - including seven Los Angeles police officers and three Los Angeles firefighters - filled half of Trinity Chapel’s sanctuary on Wednesday. Officers and firefighters outfitted in their dress uniforms stood at attention out of respect as Herens’ family processed through the sanctuary.
After the service, the public safety officials lined the halls of the church leading to a parking lot where a West Cobb Funeral Home hearse was waiting. Standing at attention, the officers and firefighters paid their last respects to their fallen brother.
“The Marietta Fire Department has lost a brother like I have,” Herens’ brother, Sam Herens, said during the funeral service.
Herens’ work ethic separated him from the crowd. Now, Herens is challenging his friends and family to continue living their lives to the fullest - just like Herens did, said Capt. Mike Bell with Cobb Fire, who officiated the service.
Campos said she plans to finish the list she made with Herens’ help - just like he would want her to.
“Ron always wanted to make memories instead of having tangible things,” she said. “He took care of me.”
RESPECT FOR A HERO
Herens’ life and heroism was honored during his final trip through west Cobb.
The long funeral procession stopped traffic on Macland Road, Barrett Parkway and Dallas Highway Wednesday afternoon for a long stretch of time.
Along the way, people lined the streets to honor Herens as he passed by. Some stood with American flags in their hands while others stood with their hands over their hearts.
Cobb fire, police, EMT and sheriff’s office deputies lined the route stopping traffic at every intersection. Two Cobb firetrucks that blocked the largest intersection of the procession - the intersection of Barrett Parkway and Dallas Highway - hung a large American flag in honor of Herens.
The last stint before the procession turned into Cheatham Hill Memorial Park off Dallas Highway was punctuated by Cobb firefighters, Sheriff’s deputies and Marietta police.
Marietta, Coweta County, Macon-Bibb, Paulding and other jurisdictions lined firetrucks along the lanes of the cemetery and a few of the fire engines sounded their sirens as Herens’ loved ones said their farewells at his gravesite.
“I beg you. Pray for this family,” Capt. Bell said.
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