the city of Newark is mourning the loss of long-time ladderman Wayne Brooks Jr one of two firemen who died fighting the massive blaze in Port Newark last week Brooks affectionately called bear will be laid to rest today his funeral services held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark the same Cathedral where just yesterday his fellow Fallen fireman Augusto akabu was honored Ted Goldberg has more on today's services and the life of newark's public servant Wayne Brooks Jr [Music] good as much as it's painful we are here not to celebrate the death of Wayne Brooks Jr but we're here to celebrate his life more than a thousand people paid their respects to Wayne Brooks Jr one of the two Newark firefighters who died while fighting a ship fire at Port Newark last week Brooks was remembered as an exceptional firefighter and a Proud Family Man Wayne was the type of person to brag about family he brags about his wife Michelle he brags about his talk his daughter's Taylor and Deja I am so appreciative of the relationship we shared and I'm grateful to have called you Dad I'm grateful you've got to see see all the accomplishments that I have achieved so far and I will continue to make you proud you have strengthened me guiding me and protected me throughout my life and each memory will be cherished and remembered with a smile Brooks leaves behind two daughters and his wife Michelle one of her friends read a letter Michelle wrote to commemorate the love of her life Wayne bear Brooks Jr you love me in a way I had always prayed for in ways that I thought only existed in fairy tales you made me feel safe and secure just as you need your family friends and the public you served I feel cheated but I know enough not to question God you were the captain of our home and would have made a great leader for whatever ladder company you would have led Brooks became a captain during today's funeral thanks to a posthumous promotion his family received a flag and also a medal of honor from the International Association of black professional firefighters his fellow firemen remembered his kindness and his Love of Cooking he was always a gentle giant and today I want to take this moment to honor you for being an amazing human being but moreover for being my great big brother we are all going to miss your smile your hugs handshakes your cookouts his meals brought us together as a family we spend many of life's big moments birthdays holidays at the firehouse and more often than not it was Bear's food that gathered us together today marked the second straight day of funerals for Newark firefighters after August akabu was laid to rest yesterday I see you feel the same thing and hope that you feel this has to be one of the worst two weeks in his experience department when the call has all is made they do not have walked into fires While most of us watch [Music] Brooks was a 16-year veteran out of Latter four in the South Ironbound in Newark I'm Ted Goldberg NJ Spotlight News NJ Spotlight News [Music]