“They are Firefighters”

They race into a burning building to save the life of someone they don’t even know…

They cut away the twisted, mangled car that someone slammed into a tree after leaving a local bar…

They shock your heart to beat again and give oxygen to save your life so that you may see your children grow, graduate and start a career…

When duty calls, they leave behind the hot meal that was just prepared at their quarters…

They respond to the smoke-filled three-story warehouse, the one with an open elevator shaft…

They attack the 1300-degree roaring inferno inside a basement fire with only one way in and one way out…

They contend with the downed high voltage line arcing on a chain link fence during a severe rainstorm…

They hear the dispatcher report while responding to an alarm “We have reports that elderly are trapped on the second floor”…

While attempting to stop a gasoline leak at the scene of an accident, an onlooker lights up a cigarette…

They are the first ones on the scene to learn that there were no smoke detectors in the home…

They are firefighters, but must have a good working knowledge of farm machinery, industrial equipment, chemicals and fertilizers…

They explain to their children why Santa came a day early because firemen must work on Christmas Day…

They take the following day off from a second job just to be with their children to cope with the loss of a child the day before…

On a cold, windy December night, hose streams begin to freeze to the ground and hamper fire ground operations at a structure fire…

The firefighters go by the hospital to check on a family after an early morning blaze…

A firefighter reads in the papers of yet another fellow firefighter that pays the ultimate sacrifice for his efforts in attempting a rescue…

After the firefighters remove the smoke from a house fire, only then do they realize that the arsonist has placed gallon jugs of gasoline in each room, on both floors…

Only a veteran firefighter can hear the screams and cries that shadow him after serving a career of dedicated service to his community…

They serve their community by giving their time standing for hours in the summer heat asking for donations at “Boot Drives” so burn victims can receive the special medical treatment needed…

And yes, they still remove cats from trees…

While you are home asleep, the Chief and his engine companies are at the training center performing required “night drills” …

They work a “funny” shift so that the fire station is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year…(Rain or Shine, Hot or Cold)…

They are the best cooks in the whole world; after all, they do it 3 times a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! …(Rain or Shine, Hot or Cold) …

They love their fire engines as if they were their own; some are given names, such as “Bertha”, or “Old Yeller”...

They become dismayed when scoffed at by the driver that refuses to pull over while responding to a “child choking” call…

They are especially watchful over the new rookie, for they too, remember their first “alarm” …

And when disaster strikes, there is no rank between Chief and Rookie, for their souls become one of the same from the sounding of the angels trumpets call…  (For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. - Psalms 91- v. 11)

After years of dedicated service to his fellowman, he humbly accepts his badge from his Chief, a handshake, and a proud salute for a “Job well done”.

 Dedicated to our Brothers and Sisters

Of the

NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT

Composed by: Sergeant Wesley C. Winkelman

Rome , Georgia Fire Department

September 29, 2001

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