The Firehouse Tavern in Wildwood, New Jersey, is lined from floor to ceiling with firefighter memorabilia. It's a place where families can donate mementos of their firefighter loved ones who retired or passed. Now, the bar is asking for the return of a fallen firefighter's helmet that was taken off the wall -- no questions asked.
A Facebook post shared with NBC10 says the stolen helmet belonged to a Gloucester Heights and Pine Grove Firefighter, Ray McQuaid, known to many friends and family as 'Rerun,' who passed away from cancer 25 years ago.
"He was a firefighter since he was 18 years old," says Margaret McQuaid, Ray's mother. "He was a volunteer and got sick just four months before he went full time. Ever since he was young he always loved the firehouse."
McQuaid’s picture and helmet had been hanging on the wall along with many others, and the helmet disappeared about two weeks ago.
"Every time we would visit the tavern we would touch it to remember him," explains Margaret, who would encourage those she met to also touch it to honor their son. "Everyone at the tavern are good people, I don't know why anyone would take it."
The helmet is black with 'Gloucester City Fire Department' printed on the side. It also has a large number 4 in the middle. Margaret explained how important the return of the helmet is to her and her family.
"It would mean everything, just everything," she said, trying to hold back tears. "His birthday just passed and it has now been 25 years without him... The helmet is so special when we visit... It would just mean everything to us."
