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.