Project 365/59

 

While I didn't personally take this picture, I wanted it to be my picture for the day.  This is the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, at the National Fire Academy.  Surrounding this stone monument are bronze plaques listing the names of every firefighter who has died in the line of duty in the United States since 1981.  On average, about one-hundred firefighters are killed or die from stress-related injuries annually.  Each October during Fire Prevention Week, those firefighters are remembered in a tradition-rich ceremony.

Around 5:30pm on Thursday, February 28, 1985 - twenty five years ago - my father became one of the names that would be added to this roll of names.  The passing of this date in this year is especially poignant because my son is the same age I was when that happened.  I'm now older than my dad was.  I've never fully understood just how much I lost then, but as I see my son grow, I become more aware of the depth of that loss every day.

For the surviving family members, we can never replace what they've lost...fathers, sons, mothers, brothers, sisters...but we can support them in many ways.  I'm a member of the National Fallen Firefighter's Foundation, which provides support to surviving family members and to departments that have suffered a loss.  From simple acts of kindness such as sending a card or note to a survivor, to assisting with educational scholarships for survivors, the Foundation performs a wide range of work in the background, and without much fanfare.  Let me take this time to encourage you to visit their website, and consider making a small donation, or a purchase, which will support their selfless work.  Their services are provided in the same manner as those men and women who protect your lives and your homes...they all do it because they want to, and they really don't expect much recognition for just doing their jobs.

Twenty-Five Years Ago...

THE MARTYRED FIREMAN
By Frank J. Ottarson

Fold gently o'er his silent breast
The honored badge he wore in death,
And reverent lay to peaceful rest --
With tearful eyes and bated breath --
The hero who nor shrunk nor quailed
When bravest hearts from terror failed,
When "Backward!" from the tottering wall --
"Back for your lives !" was cried by all.
But he nor feared, nor saw, nor heard,
He would not hear the backward word;
The path of duty lay before;
The fireman's badge he proudly wore
Would blush for shame if one should say
He shrank from danger. "Clear the way!"
Up to the front the hero came
To battle face to face with flame.
One thought he gave to hearts at home,
And eyes that laughed to see him come;
But "Duty, duty !" was the cry --
'Twas duty now to do or die,
He dashed the unbidden tear away,
And foremost led the dangerous fray;
The high wall tottered all aflame:
Then, like an avalanche, it came
Down thundering to the quaking ground,
And built the martyr's funeral mound
A shriek of horror! Like a flash
To work his brave companions dash;
With blistering hands they tear the pile --
Their hushed hearts beating low the while --
And soon with streaming eyes they bear
The martyr to the cool night air
Too late! The fatal work is done!
His crown of fame is dearly won;
Crushed by the cruel wall he lies,
Stern duty's latest sacrifice.

The victim of the battle's strife
Lives in our hearts a second life;
But who the unarmed hero knows,
Who, like this fireman, graveward goes
Contented, in a peaceful sphere --
To live without reproach or fear,
To do all that becomes a man,
And fill the grand though humble plan
By Heaven ordained? Shalt we forget
The hero whose bruised body yet
Seems quick with life? Let banners wave
O'er martyrs in a warrior's grave;
Here needs no muffled drum nor crepe;
Our very hearts to-day we drape
With sorrow, and sit down to mourn
The hero who will ne'er return.
Lay him to rest; his work is o'er;
Nor sins nor sorrows vex him more;
He filled the Maker's grandest plan,
And when be died he died for man,

-- printed in "The Fireman's Journal" April 2, 1881.

Project 365/58

 

Again, from inside one of our C-17 Globemasters operated by the Mississippi Air National Guard.  It's very nice and refreshing to see our flag hanging inside the cargo bay of these aircraft.  The airmen that operate these birds are equally impressive.  I got some to spend some time visiting with them this week in Jackson.  The told of their experiences in ferrying injured soldiers out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and how the crews are known for the way they extend Mississippi hospitality to those soldiers during the long flights.  "Princess 1",  one of the flight nurses, told me how they usually make cookies to give the soldiers to comfort them, and little things they do to make the flights easier.  If you ever get a chance to visit with our soldiers, sailors, and airmen while they're "on duty" and can show you around their equipment, you'll walk away with a great sense of pride and appreciation for what they do.

Project 365/57

 

From the belly of a US Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft, taken this week during Mississippi Med-1's deployment exercise.  As configured this week, it could carry 36 litter-borne patients, and a similar number of ambulatory patients in seats.

Project 365/56

One more "archive" picture for this week....VIVA LAS VEGAS!  This was taken last May while training in Nevada.  Yeah, sometimes I have a rough job.  But this night on the Vegas Strip was followed by a few days out in the desert, so it was a trade-off.

Project 365/55

Going back into the photo vault for today's picture, as we've been terribly busy all day in a training exercise.  I promise I will post pictures this weekend from this week's events.  For operational security reasons, we're not releasing any photos until late Friday.

This picture was taken from inside my home church, Carrollton Baptist Church, in Carrollton, MS.  The town was founded in the 1830's, and many of the original homes and buildings remain.  The town is unique in that its buildings haven't been restored, but they've been preserved and maintained as active homes and churches all along.

Project 365/54

Home made deer summer sausage with cheddar cheese and jalapenos ground in. Mmmm!
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/53

This week, we're involved in an exercise on an Air Guard base, and for reasons of operational security, postings of pictures related to this event will be delayed until Friday afternoon at the earliest.

So, in the meantime, I'll try to do my best to reach back into the picture archives and give you a little background on what we're doing.

 

This is what we'll be setting up and operating this week.  Mississippi has three 50-bed mobile field hospitals, two housed in Jackson, and the third in Oxford.  They're quite impressive.  This picture portrays the two Jackson units deployed at Trustmark Park in Pearl for another exercise in the fall of 2008.

Until I can get pictures up of this week's events, I'll try to give you a taste of the capabilities of these field hospitals this week.

Project 365/52

Oreos! First that Therapist and I have had in quite a long time....mmmmm
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/51

Chicken & Rice, the quintessential Mississippi Delta staple meal. Betty's Place on Main St. in Indianola...
---Blackberry in use---

A quote....

"The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creature that cannot." ~ Mark Twain

Project 365/50

Its Friday! Have a great weekend everyone.
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/49

Got the sunroof open on the Titan!!! Bring on the springtime!!
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/48

Sweet Tarts! My Valentine's gift from Therapist. She knows how to get to me.
---Blackberry in use---

Project 355/47

On the road again...got to get Willie Nelson's song on my MP3 player.
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/46

Lemon-Butter shrimp with garlic-lemon-herb pasta, and a glass of Napa Valley Chardonnay. Mmmmmmmm
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/45

 

Happy Valentine's Day!  This is one of Therapist's little happies for Valentine's.  I've got a full day planned for her, and looking forward to every bit of it!

Project 365/44

 

I wish I knew how to play, properly.  I can play a little, all by ear and memorization.

Project 365/43

 

The view across to my neighbors this morning.  The streets were practically dry, but the ground and trees were dusted like Cafe' Du Monde beignets covered in powdered sugar.

And just feeling a little "artsy" with the snow as it melted off the magnolia tree in the yard.  Overall, it presented a unique visual - instead of the huge white magnolia blooms, the heavy green leaves were coated in white.

Snow in Mississippi...

 

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!  All are admonished to draw near and give their attention to Cartoonist Marshall Ramsey at the Clarion-Ledger today, he nailed this one perfectly.  Give him a "10" on the bobsled.

Night Snow...

Outside my house about 8:30pm

Project 365/42 Part II

 

Whoever prayed hard for snowfall can stop now.  Thank you.

Project 365/42

 

First thing this morning, from my carport....that orange/pink line in the center is about all the sunshine we got to see today.  Waiting on the snow now....

Project 365/41

 

The Good Guys on my filing cabinet, protecting the valuables.  Yeah, it's water from a beer company, compliments of Hurricane Katrina.

Project 365/40

Sunshine!!! It does exist!
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/39

 

"Watching" a conversation on the radio between two stations, one in Ohio and the other in Missouri, talking about basketball.  Yeah, I'm an amateur radio geek.  It's just something to fill in the time occasionally.  But it can be quite fun too.  Using less power than your average lightbulb, we communicate over vast distances.  I've got contacts in my log from all over North America, some South America, a few in Japan and Russia, France, Italy, England...just to name a few.

And yes, I know I didn't "take" this photograph.  Whatchagonna do?  Sue me?

Project 365, extra edition

The Saints won the Superbowl.  Massachusetts elected a Republican senator.  Does anyone have tickets for the Chicago Cubs in the 2010 World Series yet?

Two great pictures from today:

The first one is from Marshall Ramsey at The Clarion Ledger in Jackson.  Marshall has a great talent for capturing the essence of current events in his editorial cartoons.  This one ran today, Sunday, February 7, 2010.

And secondly, perhaps the greatest picture from tonight's game...Drew Brees holding his son immediately after the game.  Wow.  Just plain wow.

Project 365/38

Therapist put out a bowl of M&M's, within reach.  That evil temptress!

A little truth...

Disasters bring out the best in people.  And they bring out the worst; the absolute worst, most reprehensible and vile will quickly take advantage of those needing help.  When that happens, it's motivated by pure selfishness.  It's either to promote themselves on a regional or national scale as under-recognized "heroes", or it's to find a way to make an easy buck off the disaster's consequences.  I've seen it first hand, and recognize it quickly.

Well, it's happening in Haiti now.  Click here to read where Haitian locals, who've received the charity of the world, have accepted the donations only to turn around and openly market them for sale to the already devastated population that is struggling to recover. 

It's just plain sickening and revolting.

Project365/37

Cicero's....its what's for dinner! Catfish New Orleans, mmmmm...
---Blackberry in use---

Project 365/36

An OLD Jax Beer box I have at home.  Wish I had some.....

Project 365/35

Fun times with a Box o'Baby Faces. Only in medicine....
---Blackberry in use---

Coming soon to an area near you...

Thanks to 9-Echo-1 for bringing this out on his blog today.  Yeah, I shamelessly copied it over here.

We in EMS already know this happens every day in every jurisdiction.  Some feel that if the major healthcare changes are pushed through by Congress, your waiting time to see your doctor will increase.  And as folks get tired of the increased wait time, they'll resort to 911 for "immediate service", which will tie up valuable resources on less-than-life-threatening problems.

911 was created for you to be able to access police, fire, and EMS in emergencies.  Emergencies are, for example, when your house is on fire, when someone is breaking in to your house while you're at home, when someone has a wreck, or if someone in you family has had a heart attack, stroke, quits breathing, is choking, etc.  It is NOT for you to use at 2am when you've grown tired of the two-day-old headache.

In our part of Mississippi, ambulances are fairly rare.  Yes, you town may have two or three units staffed and ready, but at any given time, one or two of them may be on a nursing home transfer, or on a long-distance hospital transfer to Jackson or Memphis.  Dispatchers do a great job at jockeying ambulances around their service area at certain times (based on historical call volume), but we can't be everywhere at once.

I'll stop ranting.  But please, if you have a medical ailment, consider whether it can 1) wait a day or two until you can see you doctor, and 2) if it is truly a life-threatening emergency.

Project 365/34

 

Today, Therapist and I had the very rare occasion of both having day-long meetings in Jackson.  After I dropped her off downtown, I ran across this scene of the sun rising behind the Old Capitol Building, but with partial illumination from sunlight reflecting off a nearby building.  The picture doesn't really do justice to how pretty it truly was.  I wish I could have edited the power lines out for a really nice picture.

Project 365/33

 

 It was Body Mechanics and Lifting & Moving Patients night for my EMT class.  They'll get the hang of it.  I hope.

Project 365/32

 

Out of coffee!  Every afternoon when I get home, one of the first things I do is set up my coffee pot for the next morning.  Imagine my surprise today when I realized I'd forgotten to purchase a new supply of java this week!!  Never fear, WalMart is near!