Hundreds Come Out To Honor Concord Firefighter Christopher 'CJ' Girard

CONCORD, NH — Firefighters from dozens of departments lined up on South Main Street in Concord, standing at attention and saluting as the hearse arrived carrying the casket for Christopher "CJ" Girard.

Firefighters carried the flag-draped casket into Christ the King Parish, with a Concord firefighter carrying Girard's helmet. Family, friends, and firefighters followed the casket into the church to attend the service. Girard passed away unexpectedly at home at the young age of 39 after a brief illness.

He was born in Berlin on May 5, 1985. He attended St. Michael’s School from kindergarten to eighth grade. He then attended Berlin High School and graduated from the Class of 2003. Girard attended Plymouth State University and graduated in 2007 with a degree in graphic design. He was very active in his youth and enjoyed many activities. He was a Cub and Boy Scout with St Kieran’s Troop 207, attaining the Rank of Life Scout. His father was his Scout Master.

He shared a passion for the fire service with his father, who was a lieutenant with the Berlin Call Fire Department. Upon graduating from college, he attended the N.H. Fire Academy in Concord. He was a volunteer fireman with the Milan and Bow departments.

His desire was to become a full-time Firefighter. After working many non-fulfilling jobs, he acquired a full-time position at Pease International Airport Fire and was there for several years. He then transferred to the Londonderry Fire Department for two years, but his ambition was to be on the Concord Fire Department, with the aspiration of operating Tower 1. That wish came true in 2018 when he became a member of that department. In 2023, he became an operator of Tower 1.

A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated, Interment will be later in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers, Donations in his memory may be made to the Concord Fire Fighters' Relief Association, 150 N. State St., Concord, NH 03301

To learn more about Firefighter Girard, read https://www.dignitymemorial.co...