In this series, I say ‘thank you’ to the men and women of America who serve their country every day.  These heroes put their lives on the line and cannot be thanked enough.  Firefighters, police officers, the military, teachers, medical professionals, pastors and many others keep our lives in order and enable us to be healthy, safe, educated, productive, and generous citizens. 

Their motivation is not personal gain but societal benefit.  This article gives special thanks to firemen and women.  Be sure to look for ‘thank-you grams’ that you can give to firefighters later in this article.

For the first article in this series, click here.

The Diverse Responsibilities of Firefighters

Take a moment to consider the diverse responsibilities we have delegated to firefighters.  They are on call to protect our homes and office buildings from smoke and flames, collapse and destruction.  They provide emergency medical services in homes, offices, and in traffic accidents.  Firefighters tackle wild fires, forest fires, and brush fires.

In their free time they go to schools to educate our children on fire prevention.  They ride in parades and show off their equipment.  They open their doors to provide basic medical training to the public.  They rescue pets, children, and the elderly from danger.

Imagine a Firefighter’s Training Regimen

Imagine what type of training a firefighter must go through.  He must learn to always preserve his own life, while sacrificing it for others.  He must maintain a buddy system.  She must be prepared for roofs to cave in, stairways to give way, and windows to blow out.

Think of the last time you saw a fire truck.  Do you remember all the equipment attached to the truck, items that most of us have no iota what they are?  How about that heavy uniform?  The awkward hats?  The heavy water hoses?  The specialty wrenches and hammers and picks.  Not to mention breathing units, EMT equipment, and knowledge of fire codes, fire safety, fire prevention, and investigative procedures. Whew!

The Sacrifices Firefighters Make

What kinds of sacrifices must firefighters make?  First of all, they put their lives on the line for your benefit and mine.  If you saw the movie Fireproof you witnessed the main character, played by Kirk Cameron, entering a burning structure to save a child [don't forget the intense train scene too].  Often times they sleep at the fire station away from home.  Some firefighters volunteer their services without pay.  Can you imagine that? 

I really have no idea the sacrifices that firefighters make.  Perhaps you can go to the nearest station and find out for yourself.

Say Thank You

Let’s give it up for our firefighters!  They define courage.  Sacrifice.  Commitment.

Firefighters are our true heroes.

Thank you, men and women in the fire houses!  Your sacrifice is appreciated.  Your hard work does not go unnoticed.  Your expertise and skill is unparalleled.

Please forgive us if we take you for granted at times. 

We need you.  We need you to protect us.  We need you to educate and train us. 

We need you to be up at 3 AM so we can sleep comfortably.  We need you to save our little daughters entrapped in a burning home.  We need you to rescue our grandfathers, sleeping unaware in a blaze.

We need you and America needs you.

Don’t Forget the Families

We MUST NOT forget the families of firefighters.  Who signs up to marry a firefighter?  Who raises a fireman?  These firefighter families experience unique challenges and they need our support.  Don’t let your gratitude go unnoticed.  Don’t let these families be taken for granted.

Wives of firemen:  thank you for the sacrifices you make in your family to protect our communities. 

Husbands of firewomen:  what courage you have to entrust your beautiful women to protect society.

Daughters and sons:  we are so grateful that you are sharing your mommy and daddy with us.

Mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and all other firefighter relatives:  may God bless your family for the sacrifices you are making.  May the Mighty God protect your firefighter.  For those of you who have lost a loved one in the course of duty, may you know God’s grace and comfort.

‘Thank-you Gram’ Time

Here is a list of ‘thank-you grams’ that we the public can give to our firefighters.  Won’t you make a commitment in 2009 to give one or two of these ‘thank-you grams’ to a firefighter in your community?

• Each time you see a firefighter, thank him or her for serving with a handshake or a hug.
• Pray for the safety and protection of firefighters.
• Visit your local fire station and see what needs the firefighters have that you might be able to assist with.
• Bake a few dozen holiday goodies and deliver them to the station.
• Watch the movie Fireproof to gain a better appreciation of this profession. For a review of Fireproof,  click here.
• Sit down with your family or roommates and brainstorm ideas on how to be a benefit or a blessing to fire personnel.
• Forward the link of this article to people in your address book so that all of America can appreciate firefighters more and more and demonstrate that appreciation in tangible ways.
• If you have a website, put a link to this article on your webpage, to bring more exposure to the firefighting community.
• If you know a firefighter or the family of one, forward this article to them to encourage them. Then ask them how you can support their family.
• Find out how you can support firefighter associations such as the International Association of Firefighters iaff.org and the National Fire Protection Association nfpa.org.
• For more information on state and local firefighter associations visit here.

In Closing

Firefighters:  thank you, thank you, thank you.  From your forever thankful friends – the citizens of the United States of America.

All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.