Gents today is a one of the sadest days in the fire service a hard pill to swallow for all who walk the line.I offer this poem to my brother form battalion 9 FDNY NEVER FORGET 343 BOX # 5555
Angels of Battalion Number Nine
There stands a firehouse in Manhattan Midtown,
Where the brothers of Ladder 4 And Engine 54 guard their ground,
Never have they been more filled with pride,
A proud profession, never worrying about that next ride,
But on that fateful day, the crews were not to know,
The Lord had pulled the Last Alarm for them to go,
With the alarm sounding, sirens screaming, brothers looking to the skies,
Ladder 4 and Engine 54 will always have enough guys,
For along with Chris, Bob and James or whoever is on the line,
Ride Chief Ed and the Angels of Battalion Number Nine.Faith among brothers
They both grew up buddies so close throughout the years
Even fought a war together to return amid the cheers
Each settled down and married, two girls from high school days
And families soon developed, with loving kids to raise
Though neither was related, one would never know
The kids would always holler “Hi Uncle Bill” “Hi Uncle Joe”
Firefighting beckoned, and they joined god’s chosen few
As their fathers did before them, it was like a dream come true
They each were pulling duty when the box came in at ten
A call for all equipment and just as many men
Arriving at the scene, the blaze was out of hand
Flames shot from every window, and Bill took full command
He reached the roof by ladder, with a hose line held in tow
When the structure fell from under, dropping him below
Joe ran through the rubble, carried out his fallen mate
The chief said sadly later “I’m sorry it was too late”
“I wasn’t too late, sir, tough bill’s life had but seconds to run.
For in those final moments, he managed to say…I knew you’d come”
A breed of their own.
Firefighters they are a breed of their own. They work long days and sleep short nights. They go for hours sometimes days on end with only a precious little bit of sleep.
Yet they do their job well and voluntarily.
A firefighter can quit at any time, no one is there looking over our shoulder telling us we can’t quit, but we don’t quit in spite of that. And when you ask one of us why, there is a pause and then an “I don’t really know” or, “I can’t really put my finger on it”. The only way I can describe it is a feeling deep in your gut that you can’t ignore, something there telling you that this is what you are here to do.
A group may enter a department for no reason at all, just looking for something to do, but of that group one or two will get their first taste of fire and realize that this is in their heart, and they will do it until they are physically unable to.
Then there are those who grew up with firefighter dads and found something magical about the way he would go off Tuesday and come back Friday with a tired look on his face but with a certain gleam of pride in his eye that told you he loved what he was doing. Or when he’d go off in the middle of the night at the sound of his pager and come back later that day with that same gleam in his eye. Despite utter exhaustion.
Some say that firemen are just thrill-seekers, looking for a quick rush. Others, those who have experienced them first hand say they are warriors. They come at a moments notice and seem to stare down at the fire; they trample on the dance floor of the devil wearing the boots of god.
These reasons are all merely speculations, nobody will ever know what makes a fireman a fireman, but one thing is for sure, the men who don’t abuse the power respect others, and love the job for what it is. They are firemen night and day.
They are the true firemen of the world; they are the public servants and protectors of the innocent.
Author: unknown
The Firefighter's Prayer
When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage;
Give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life;
Please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.
Author Unknown
AMEN
SORRY TO FILL UP THE SITE GENTS.
Lt.Coop
PFD 1 TRUCK