A TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS
A firefighters first thought is not of himself when he hears the stations bells, but to his fellow man, brother and sister, no matter what race, creed or religion. We are all one under God. He just knows he is ready to confront the devil with it's flames all around to show his fellow neighbor to safer ground. His job will not be complete until every man, woman and child exit the building before he and his own feet. He will stay even when the floor grows weak if he hears another cry for help. He whispers a common prayer; God give me strength to save another life. I want to fulfill my calling and give the best in me, to show mankind how good shall prevail, even on this day when evil has hit our nation hard. Protect my brothers and sisters and show our nation we will survive. That someone is worth all I have to give. He knows if that floor should give way to a fate only God knows. He will first make one last effort to save that someone before he goes. A firefighter believes with all his heart and soul that the greatest hazard in life is to have not taken that risk to save a life whatever be their age. And if he gives his life doing what God called upon him to do, he will complete his job by escorting those lives he could not save up the ladder to heaven before his soul will rest. As our nation mourns all those lost on 9-11-01, all the fallen New York Firefighter's want us to know they are still at work. They are taking all of your fallen loved ones with them to heaven where no evil will remain. They have given their lives for what they love and may we all learn from each of them, that love does prevail. GOD BLESS AMERICA the TRUE home of the free and brave. IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE MANY FALLEN NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
Author: A Firefighter's Wife Carol Yunker
THE LAST ALARM
My father was fireman.
He drove a big red truck and when he'd go to work each day
he'd say, Mother wish me luck.
Then Dad would not come home again
'till sometime the next day.
But the thing that bothered me the most
was the thing's some folks would say,
A fireman's life is easy,
he eats and sleeps and plays,
and sometimes he wont fight a fire
for days and days.
When I first heard these words
I was young to understand
but I knew when people had trouble
Dad was there to lend a hand.
then my father went to work one day
and kissed us all goodbye
but little did we realizes
that night we all would cry.
My father lost his life that night
when the floor gave way below
and I'd wondered why he'd risk his life
for someone he did not know.
But not I truly realize
the greatest gift a man can give
is to lay his life upon the line
so that someone else might live.
So as we go from day to day
and we pray to God above
say a prayer for your local fireman.
He may save the one's you love.
-unknown author
WE CAN MAKE IT ON TIME
The pagers go off, calling us out.
The dispatcher gives the address, with a loud shout.
I jump out of bed as fast as I can.
Grab my shoes and my keys as they page us again.
I go out to my truck, plug in the dash light.
Cause somewhere in town is a fire I must fight.
Wipeing the sleep from my eyes, I see a bright Glow in the distance.
A policeman yells over the radio Code 3, I need assistance
He said there is screaming, coming from inside.
I think to myself, someone is trapped, but alive.
The pain they must feel, I can't imagine the scare.
I see the station up the road, the chief's already there.
I pray to God Please let us get there in time,
To save an unknown life, Lord if you must, instead take mine.
I speed up a little faster, but still driving safe.
Still praying to God that I won't be too late.
I finally get to the station, put on my turn out gear.
The chief starts the fire engine and yells We're outta here!
The sirens sound off, the red strobe are so bright,
I pray once again,Lord watch over us tonight.
I suit up for action putting on the S.C.B.A.
The chief makes the comment Boys the Devil wants to play!
We arrive on scene, not ever thinking one time,
Why am I doing this? or Why do I put my life on the line?
As we observe the silence and think this person is dead.
All of a sudden I see the shadow of a small head.
Looking real hard, trying to figure out what it is.
Oh dear Lord, it can't be. It's just a small kid.
Then all of sudden the head moved, this kid's still alive!
So I try to reassure her by yelling Everything's gonna be alright!
I always said I'd die if it would save another life.
But never once did i think that it could happen tonight.
I run to the front door, Kick it open and run in.
Praying once more,God, we can't let the Devil win.
Crawling on the floor, moving slowly toward the crying.
I noticed a strong smell and loud hissing. Oh No! It's a gas line!
I knew I had to hurry so I got up and ran towards the cry
I found that little girl, she could barely open her eyes.
The smoke was thick and very hot and getting ready to flash.
I took off my jacket, wrapped her in it and gave her my air mask.
I heard a firefighter outside say, The roof's coming down,
if they are getting out alive, they better get out right now.
I grabed the young girl as if she were a football,
tucked her in close and ran to the window.
The chief ran up and took her from my arm
My other one's broken, but at least she is out of the way of harm.
Then I remembered the gas line. So I too climbed out the window.
And sure enough, that gas line did blow.
The explosion knocked me down, but I got right back up on my feet.
Took no more than 3 steps, then I hit my knees.
Through my blurred vision, I watched that little girl,
with her mom and dad all crying, having a face with a smile.
She then walked over to me and grabbed me by the hand.
She said isn a soft sweet voice Thank you Mr. Fireman.
We put out the fire, got ready to go home one more time.
I helped roll the hoses, thanking God that nobody died.
And thank you Dear Lord for letting us be on time.
Author: Jerry L. Duncan Jr.
A FIRE CAPTAINS PRAYER
Dear God, please guide me in my plight. Help me think quickly, but safely. Guild my hand to help those who are seeking knowledge. Give me the wisdom, to help the injured and the weak. To help those who have no thrive for life. Grant me the strength to fight the fire with assertive skill. And God please grant me the ability to return home, to my family. And, if in your wisdom I may give my life, Protect them from harm, no matter what the foe. Amen
Author: Chief Jeff A. Stricklin
A FIREFIGHTERS GLOVES
A firefighters gloves hold many things, From elderly arms to a kids broken swing, From the hands they shake and the backs they pat To the tiny claw marks of another freed cat
At 2am they are filled with chrome, From the DWI who was on her way home The equipment they use to roll back the dash, From the family of 6 she involved in a crash
The brush rakes in spring, wears the palms out When the wind does 90 to fill them with doubt The thumb of the glove wipes the sweat from the brow Of the face of the firefighter who mutters what now
They hold an inch and three quarters flowing one-seventy five So the ones going in can come back out alive, When the regulator goes there isn't too much, But the bypass valve that they eagerly clutch
The rescue equipment the ropes the C-collars The lives they save never measured in dollars Are the obvious things firefighters gloves hold Or so that is what I've always been told
But there are other things firefighters gloves touch These are the things that we all need so much They hold back the rage on that 3 am call They hold in the fear when your lost in a hall
They hold back the pity the agony and the sorrow They hold in the desire to do it tomorrow A glove is just a glove till it's on a firefighter Who work all day long just to pull an all-nighter
And into the fray they charge without fear At the sound of help they think they hear When firefighters hands go into the glove It's always a firefighter who fills it with love
Sometimes the sorrow is too much to bear and it seeps into the glove and burns deep in there Off comes the gloves when the call is done And into the pocket until the next run
The hands become lonely and cold for a bit And shake just a little thinking of it And they sit there so red eyed with their hands in their coats The tears come so fast that the furniture floats
They're not so brave now; their hands can't hide I guess it just means that there human inside And though some are paid and others are not The gloves feel the same when it's cold or it's hot
To someone your helping to just get along When you fill them with love, you always feel strong And so when I go on my final big ride I hope to have my gloves by my side
To show to St. Peter at that heavenly gate Cause as everyone knows, firefighters don't wait
Author:Lynn Walters
Firefighters daughter
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