LYNN TWP., Pa. — Two fallen New Tripoli firefighters now will forever be remembered as heroes.
Local leaders on Thursday unveiled a new sign renaming part of state Route 143 as Heroes Highway in honor of firefighters Marvin Gruber and Zachary Paris.
The firefighters died in the line of duty on Dec. 7, 2022, when they became trapped while fighting a house fire in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County.
Dozens of community members and first responders gathered to celebrate the sign's unveiling.
"When you travel this sacred Heroes Highway, I ask that you hold your head high and think about the good times we had with both Zach and Marvin and the impact they had on our community,” said New Tripoli Fire Department Chief Gary Kuntz.
State Sen. Jarrett Coleman sponsored the legislation to rename the highway, and State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie supported the bill. Both were in attendance.
"While nothing we can ever do can bring them back, today we're here to begin that process to always remember them,” Coleman said.
The sign for Heroes Highway is across the street from Lehigh Valley Physician Group Family Medicine-New Tripoli.
The renamed section of the highway runs from the intersection of Route 309 to the Berks County border.
‘They chose to serve their community’
Zachary Paris, 36, was New Tripoli Community Fire Company’s First Assistant Chief. He was also the father of two young daughters.
Marvin Gruber, 59, was a volunteer firefighter at the New Tripoli Community Fire Company and the assistant chief of public safety at Northampton Community College. He had two adult children and three grandchildren.
"They would be so proud and honored to see this extraordinary dedication on the road they traveled home to their loved ones every day."Karen Gruber, Marvin Gruber’s wife of 35 years
At a joint memorial service in December 2022, hundreds of mourners gathered to remember them as heroes and dedicated public servants.
Nick Gruber, Marvin Gruber's son and a deputy fire chief at the New Tripoli Community Fire Company, said the two men were known first and foremost as hardworking family men.
"With a little bit of spare time that they had at the end of the day, they chose to serve their community and do a job that a lot of people don't want to do, but ultimately, we can't do without,” Nick Gruber said.
"They would be so proud and honored to see this extraordinary dedication on the road they traveled home to their loved ones every day,” said Karen Gruber, Marvin Gruber’s wife of 35 years.
Gerald Paris, father of Zachary Paris, encouraged the crowd to support volunteer fire companies.
"The next time your local fire company has an event, go, because that money means more or better equipment to save your life or their lives,” Gerald Paris said.
The new highway name is not the only way Marvin Gruber and Zachary Paris are being honored.
A nonprofit called the Northwestern Lehigh Firefighter Foundation, which was created in their memory, now is fundraising to build a memorial at Ontelaunee Park.
It also plans to create a small, firefighter-themed splash pad in the park.
