CHICAGO (WLS) — Red ribbons lined the street on North Milwaukee Avenue Monday, placed there by the community to show their support for Chicago Fire Department Captain David Meyer’s family.

It is symbol of their respect for the man who was killed in the line of duty after 28 years of service.

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Heavy hearts also lined up outside Malec and Son’s Funeral Home in Norwood Park, waiting to pay their respects to the 54-year-old husband and father of four. Earlier Monday, Meyer’s loved ones arrived for a private visitation.

Meyer, a Chicago native, served on Engine 96 and Truck 29. He was with the department for nearly three decades.

Firefighters in attendance on Monday remembered Meyer for his leadership. His loss is being felt department-wide.

“It’s hard. It’s hard for all members. It’s something that we’ve done too often. It is difficult, and it’s nothing that you ever think you’re going to deal with. All of us wake up in the morning, smile on their face, go to work, have fun with the people we work with, and we enjoy our job, go out and help people,” said Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 Vice President Erik Steinmetz.

It has been less than a week since Meyer was killed while batting a West Side garage fire.

The investigation into the fire that killed him continues, but 44-year-old Charles Green has been accused of igniting the fire in a trash bin, which investigators say led to the cause of the garage fire.

Green is now charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated arson.

SEE ALSO | Convicted felon charged in West Side fire that killed CFD captain to be held in custody

But on Monday night, the focus is not on that investigation, but on the man who died serving his community and his hometown.

Meyer was also honored on Monday morning at a Workers Memorial Day commemoration on the South Side.

A coalition of union members highlighted the dangers workers, including first responders, face while on the job.

It was at the Union Stock Yard Gate, where Meyer’s name will be added to a fallen firefighter memorial wall.

The Chicago Union Stock Yards fire of 1910 resulted in the deaths of 21 Chicago firefighters.

Monday’s visitation runs until 8 p.m.

The Chicago fire and police departments will line up outside the visitation later Monday night. It is expected to be both a powerful and emotional sight as the community bids farewell to someone who gave his life to protecting his city.

One firefighter told ABC7 the crowd will be in the thousands.

The funeral service follows on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Saint John Brebeuf Church in Niles.