BOSTON -- Friday marked one year since a fire at a West Roxbury restaurant claimed the lives of two veteran Boston firefighters.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported Walter Payne and Paul Cahill's families unveiled plaques on their firehouse in West Roxbury. The two firefighters died battling a fire in the Tai Ho restaurant a half-mile from the firehouse.

Anniversary Of Firefighters' Deaths Marked

"May these memorial plaques being unveiled today be a constant reminder to all of us that firefighter Paul Cahill and firefighter Warren Payne died as true heroes," said the Rev. Daniel Manhoney, the Boston Fire Department chaplain.

Boston Mayor Tom Menino, residents of West Roxbury and Payne and Cahill's brother firefighters joined the families in the ceremonies.

"Paul Cahill and Warren Payne deserve nothing less than our utmost respect," Boston Fire Department Chief Kevin MacCurtain said. "They were lost while serving the people of this great city."

Absent was any reference to the controversy that consumed the Boston Fire Department after their deaths, when autopsy results indicated Payne had cocaine in his system, and Cahill had a blood-alcohol content of three times the legal limit for a motorist in the state.

"There aren't many perfect men that walk this world. I don't know of any. But I know one thing is true -- Warren and Paul were perfect firemen. They proved their willingness to sacrifice, which is the cornerstone of what a firefighter is," said Ed Kelly, union president.

A final tribute to firefighters Payne and Cahill will be held at 9:06 p.m. That's the time that the fire was called in one year ago. Firefighters throughout the city will bring their fire trucks outside their stations and offer one final salute.