Fallen Boston Firefighter Honored Posthumously

A Boston firefighter who died battling a blaze in a Back Bay brownstone two months ago has been honored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay for mentoring a young boy.

Michael Kennedy was given the organization's Big of the Year Award on Thursday night. It's the first time the award has been given posthumously.

The 33-year-old Kennedy had been a Big Brother to 14-year-old Alex Beauzile of Milton since the boy was 7.

Beauzile said that the years he knew Kennedy were "the best years of my life." He says Kennedy made him laugh and every day with Kennedy was a new adventure.

Kennedy encouraged Beauzile to follow his dreams to go to college, join the Marines and become a police officer.