“You see, I would still be talking to him every day, and I know I’ll still be able to hear his voice guiding me,” McMenamy said as he choked back tears during his eulogy. “I thank God for giving us that, more now than ever.”

McMenamy told Bruce’s children that “[Charles Sr.] told me you were the only two that gave him that ray of light — not me, not anyone else came close to the love he felt for you both. I see him in both of you and I know you will shine that light, that Charlie Bruce light, that you have to anyone you meet in your life.”

Malverne Fire Chief Scott Edwards said that Bruce was a great friend and fireman who lived life to the fullest “It’s difficult to try to make sense of this tragedy," Edwards said. "We had a lot of good times together — it’s a deep loss.”

Malverne Mayor Patti McDonald told the Herald that she, on behalf of the Village, was devastated by Bruce's death.

"He will be very much missed by all of his fellow firemen, I'm sure, but also by members of our Village," she said. "We’re very fortunate to have someone like Charlie Bruce who volunteered his time away from his family to help protect our community."

Charles Jr., who also read the anonymous poem entitled The Final Flight as a tribute to his father, said that “The one thing [my father] would want me to end this with is: I’ll see you soon. I’ll see you soon.”