Norfolk, Va. - A snapshot captured a moment in Kyle Gavin's life that his friends wish could last forever.
It's replaced by the empty boots, helmet and fire gear that once embraced a proud member of the Norfolk fire department.
"Kyle was one of those guys that makes the station a better place to be in," says co-worker Stephanie Ramsey.
"He was the kind of person that when he came into the room everyone was smiling and happy," says John Sutton.
His smile may have defined him, but his artwork highlighting the sacrifice and valor of firefighters everywhere gave him a canvas to pay homage to his brothers and sisters.
"A lot of people would look at it and see fire and the action going on but we see the fireman coming out and holding somebody," says Sutton.
"Kyle had no official no formal training with his artwork and he just had this uncanny ability to see something vision it and that's how he did his job too," says Stephanie.
Kyle really looked forward to his station's brand new fire engine since his new duties would have put him behind the wheel.
But he suited up for the last time last summer, before it arrived.
His friends on the job say he lived every moment, even when on the scene of a fire he would remind them life was still worth living.
Kyle will not be denied his chance to ride on the new fire engine. His co-workers plan to place his casket on top of the new rig he admired so much and take him to his final resting place after a memorial service on Thursday.
It's replaced by the empty boots, helmet and fire gear that once embraced a proud member of the Norfolk fire department.
"Kyle was one of those guys that makes the station a better place to be in," says co-worker Stephanie Ramsey.
"He was the kind of person that when he came into the room everyone was smiling and happy," says John Sutton.
His smile may have defined him, but his artwork highlighting the sacrifice and valor of firefighters everywhere gave him a canvas to pay homage to his brothers and sisters.
"A lot of people would look at it and see fire and the action going on but we see the fireman coming out and holding somebody," says Sutton.
"Kyle had no official no formal training with his artwork and he just had this uncanny ability to see something vision it and that's how he did his job too," says Stephanie.
Kyle really looked forward to his station's brand new fire engine since his new duties would have put him behind the wheel.
But he suited up for the last time last summer, before it arrived.
His friends on the job say he lived every moment, even when on the scene of a fire he would remind them life was still worth living.
Kyle will not be denied his chance to ride on the new fire engine. His co-workers plan to place his casket on top of the new rig he admired so much and take him to his final resting place after a memorial service on Thursday.
