WORCESTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- One year later, the pain of losing one of their brothers is still fresh to the Worcester Fire Department.

"In john's sacrifice of laying down his life, he has shown to the rest of us an act of love that reaches to the heavens.”

John Davies was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 8th, 2011.

A wall inside a Worcester home went up in flames and fell, trapping two firefighters inside. John Davies was on the first floor. His partner, Brian Carroll, was in the basement and survived.

"John was more than just my partner on the rescue, he was a good friend,” said Carroll.

Tonight friends, family, and firefighters gathered to remember together while pushing forward.

"It's difficult, you know. I mean the guys move on, we still have a job to do. We don't sit back and ponder what ifs. We just move on, we move forward,” said Deputy Fire Chief Geoffrey Gardell of the Worcester Fire Department.

Davies left behind a fiancée and three sons. One of those sons now serves the fire department his father left behind.