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Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you
On 11September 2001, the greatest country in history was dealt a tremendous blow by a " faceless coward ". This event has become known in the emergency services as FDNY 9-11 as we lost 300 plus of our own in addition to the thousands of civilians. Even though the vast majority of us never had the honor of knowing those that fell, we still feel the sorrow of loss to our firefighting family; the brotherhood mentioned about other areas doesn't compare to the brotherhood of firefighters. This is, in our own way, Station 3's online tribute to our brothers, sisters and their families. GOD BLESS AMERICA
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This came to me via e-mail from a brother firefighter.
My Friends,
As you know, I have attended over the past several years classes from coast
to coast with firefighters from all over the country and in some cases, the
world. This included working with, and developing friendships with, members
of FDNY HazMat 1. From the halls of the National Fire Academy, the deserts
of New Mexico, and the live agent chambers of Ft. McClellan, I had the honor
and priviledge of working, trading stories and enjoying a beer or two with
some of the best firefighters and hazmat technicians this country has to
offer. This morning I received the news that 18 members of HazMat 1 and
Squad 288, the entire shift, are missing and presumed lost. My friends now
lie somewhere beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center.
The attached sketch appeared in the paper this morning here in Greensboro,
but I'm sure that many of you have seen it. I would consider it a personal
favor to me if you would forward this to those in your address books in
memory of my friends from HazMat 1 and the rest of my fallen brothers who
gave their lives in the line of duty on September 11, 2001 so that their
sacrifice may never be forgotten.
Thank you,
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Pride in Station 3
9 Station 3 fire fighters recently gave from deep within their hearts. The hat was passed at the Business meeting and a total of $ 824 .00 was collected from Station 3 for the FDNY 9-11 Relief Fund. The Henderson County FD collected well over .00 from 11 stations.
We'd like to challenge every volunteer station across the country to do the same.
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You can help :
Firehouse.com online magazine has graciously donated the time to work in conjunction with the International Association of Firefighters to form the FDNY 9-11 Relief Fund. ALL proceeds from this fund will go directly to the survivors of those fallen. Please, give what you can.
Firehouse Online Magazine
A Powerful Poem
A Powerful Poem
Author Unknown
It was late one Tuesday evening,
Before a mother could sit down,
To tell her only child about
The terror that hit downtown.
She looked into the eyes of her son
God, she loved him so,
She felt her heart begin to break
And the hurt begin to show.
She gathered all her strength and courage,
as her story she began to tell.
"Baby don't cry, but I'm afraid daddy
Might be under a building that fell."
The boy looked back at his mother,
His eyes made not one blink.
And the mother's tears began to fall.
What would her baby think?
You see, his dad is a firefighter,
And his hero from the day of his birth.
He loved his dad more than anything else
That could ever inherit this earth.
The mother's head began to drop,
Her forehead resting on palm.
She thought her son would be upset.
Instead, he was very calm.
The boy leaned over towards his mom,
And put his hand upon her head.
In her ear he began to whisper,
And this is what he said:
"Mommy please don't cry,
I knew daddy wasn't coming home.
I talked to him just a while ago,
But it wasn't on the phone.
He told me that he loved me,
And he promised we'd meet again.
He told of his new home,
And the job he was to begin."
"God is building an army,
And there are many angels needed.
That, is where daddy and the others went.
They weren't all defeated."
It was then, the mother lifted her head.
The tears streamed down her face.
And she could feel her husband's presence,
As it filled her heart with grace.
It was then she knew her son was right.
He was in God's great army now.
She also knew her son was safe,
That he'd be kept from harm somehow.
So, evil-doers of the world beware.
An army is on the way.
Bolstered by new angels,
Who left the towers that day..
Their commander has never been beaten.
His power has never been matched,
And if evil thinks He was almighty before......
Well, the surface has just been scratched!
GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!! and GOD bless you!!!
Firefighting.com
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New York's finest
The building is going to collapse", he overheard. "I know" he mumbled,
strapping his breathing apparatus to his back. A tidal wave of people and
smoke came at him, and he fought against the current desperate to get
inside
the place where everyone was trying to escape. He is a firefighter,
doesn't
see himself as a hero. This is what he does. "People are trapped
upstairs",
she overheard. "I know" she mumbled, as she grabbed her oxygen cylinder
and
bag and walked into the billowing clouds of debris looking for someone,
anyone, who needed her. She is a paramedic, doesn't see herself as a hero.
This is what she does. "The people don't know what is happening" he
overheard "I know" he mumbled, as he walked towards the panic and pain
bringing comfort by his strength, giving directions, showing people where
to
go, even as he goes closer and closer. He is a Police Officer, he doesn't
see himself as a hero. This is what he does. "We lost the entire engine
company" one numbly said. "I know" said the captain. He looked at the
faces
on the wall. Faces he would never see again. "We have Police and Fire
waiting, and Ambulances are lined up" "I know", said God, as he wiped the
tears from his eyes and opened up to golden gates at the entry to paradise
and let our ordinary heroes in.
They were the men and women who didn't need to be there who could have
saved
themselves who could have stayed away from the scenes of pain and hell but> they walked into the fire though they knew that they might die and we
watched their spirits rise to heaven as the towers collapsed in the sky.
Just ordinary people, whose families daily prayed that their loved ones> would return to them at the end of every day In this great tragedy, a
greater story unfolds of the bravest men and women that New York City
holds
the simple, ordinary heroes. Fire fighter. Paramedic. Police officer. "We
have Police and Fire waiting, and Ambulances lined up...." " I know", said
God, wiping tears from his eyes and He opened up the golden gates at the
entry to paradise and let our ordinary Heroes in. It's what he does.
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Daddy's Roses
Daddy's Pink Roses~
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't here today.
But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school,
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees,
a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in the back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats.
One by one the teacher called,
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them were searching,
for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another dead beat dad,
too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with her hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
My daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories,
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone.
'Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll be forever in my heart
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to Fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away.
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doudt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.
*~In God we trust-September 11, 2001~*
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