"Heros"


The hours are hard, and so it the job,
But I'd it all so you won't sob. To save,
your house,Your life,Your children. I'll risk
it all to enter the building. Each day i leave
my wife and child. To respond to the number you
dialed. But if i go and do not live. Please
Remember all we give

IT'S TIME TO LOOK UP


Please know, dear heroes, you have done your best.
As search efforts diminish, your body must rest.
For days and nights you earnestly tried.
Some you saved; some have died.


Your heart cries out "maybe just one more day..
I don't want to give up; I can't walk away!"
But now please accept things may be out of your hands.
For those now gone, God has his own plans.


No one can describe the horrors you've seen.
But now, on others, it's YOUR turn to lean!
Go home to your loved ones who've been through their own "hell",
Praying you return to them soon, safe anad well!


For all of your efforts and dedication,
You have the admiration of the entire nation.
All over the country your efforts are hailed.
Though some were lost, never feel that you failed.


Now take time to mourn; it's all right to cry,
As you turn to leave; say a final "goodbye".
It's time to "look up" now; there is still life and beauty. GOD BLESS YOU AGAIN as you return to your duty!

Firefighter's Life


We've found our calling,
Where the flames rage,
We know that we'll drop everything,
When we hear the page.

As we search each room,
For the one we might have missed,
The smoke above us looms,
The fire continues to crackle and hiss.

Finally we find her,
A girl of two or three,
Hiding beneath a bed,
I know she's scared of me.

I reach out my hand,
And tell her I can help,
I tell her I'm a firefighter,
And I've come to put the fire out.

I realize that soon,
It might be too late,
To save this little girl,
From a horrible fate.

But, as I pass,
that little girl,
Out the window,
Out of that fiery world,

I look down to the ground below,
And see her family smile,
And I know what I faced in there,
Compared to the warmth of love is mild.

That little girl's family thanked me,
For saving their daughter's life.
I simply told them it was part of the job,
It was a firefighter's life.

Why Are You A Firefighter?
At various times during our careers,
we all are asked,
"Why do you choose to be firefighters?"
The answers you may receive
are as numerous as the stars in the sky.
However,
there is one explanation that any firefighter
will confirm with a modest smile and a nod.

We've watched the faces
of family members light up with delight,
as a rescued pet is produced from beneath our coat.

We've also seen the anguish,
as they survey the results of the ravages
of fire upon their cherished belongings.

We've been caught up in the excitement of the children,
as we help them climb aboard the engines,
laughing at the sight of them
trying on the coat and boots
that are a sign of our trade.

We've also experienced the anger and frustration
of having to carry them
from smoldering buildings,
wondering what they may have become,
and may have accomplished.

We've had arms wrapped around us,
expressions of gratitude
for having been there when needed.

We've wrapped our arms around victims,
shielding them beneath our coats,
as the twisted remains of their vehicle are pried away.

We have felt the fear of those we serve,
as we do our best to remove them from harms way.

We have felt our own fear,
as we venture into harms way,
to rescue those we serve.

We share a sense of pride and accomplishment
among all members
for those we are able to save,
because they are our neighbors.

We share in the sorrow
for those we are unable to save,
because they are our neighbors.

We choose to be firefighters,
because you are our neighbor.


This is not merely a job we perform,
this is what we believe in.
Firefighting is not just a profession,
it is a way of life.

Michael Wade Newberry

The Last Alarm


My father was a fireman,
He drove a big red truck.
And when he'd go to work each day,
He'd say "Honey, wish me luck!".


Then dad would not come home again,
Till sometime the next day.
But the thing that bothered me the most,
Was the things that folks would say.


"A fireman's life is easy,
He eats and sleeps and plays.
And sometimes he don't fight a fire,
For days and days and days".


When I first heard these comments,
I was too young to understand.
But I knew when folks had trouble,
Dad was there to lend a hand.


Then my father went to work one day,
And he kissed us all goodbye.
And little did we realize
That night we all would cry.


My father gave his life that night,
When the floor gave way, below.
And I wondered why he'd risk his life,
For someone he didn't know.


But now I realize,
The greatest gift a man can give.
Is to lay his life upon the line,
So that someone else might live.


So as we go from day to day,
And we pray to God above,
Say a prayer for your local fireman--
He may save the one you love.

Please leave your thoughts
and prayers for FDNY in this guest
book

As most of us stopped, to see the fire in the sky,
you were in the trucks, passing us by.
As the unthinkable horror, makes us shed a tear,
you entered the building, in your rescue gear.
As we sat in panic, praying for no more
you were climbing the stairs, floor by floor.
We sat confused, awed, and in strife
you were looking, hoping, and praying for life.
As the building came down, we feared you would too.
But God gave you wings, and instead you flew.


Poem by Devin Siebold, Age 16 Melbourne, Fl

Creation of the Firefighter

When the Lord was creating Firefighters, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "Your doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said "Have you read the specification on this person? Firefighters have to be able to go for hours fighting fires or tending to a person that the usual every day person would never touch, while putting in the back of their mind the circumstances. They have to be able to move at a second's notice and not think twice of what they are about to do, no matter what danger. They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on half-eaten meals, and they must have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way." It's not the hands that are causing me problems, " said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes a Firefighter has to have." That's on the standard model? " asked the angel. The Lord nodded. " One pair that sees through the fire and where they and their fellow Firefighters should fight the fire next. Another pair here in the side of the head to see their fellow Firefighters and keep them safe. And another pair of eyes in the front so that they can look for the victims caught in the fire that need their help."

"Lord" said the angel, touching his sleeve, " Rest and work on this tomorrow." I can't, said the Lord, "I already have a model that can carry a 250 pound man down a flight of stairs and to safety from a burning building, and can feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the Firefighter very slowly, "Can it think?" "You bet," said the Lord. It can tell you the elements of a hundred fires; and can recite procedures in their sleep that are needed to care for a person until they reach the hospital. And all the while they have to keep their wits about themselves. This Firefighter also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with a scene full of pain and hurt, coaxing a child's mother into letting go of the child so that they can care for the child in need. And still they rarely get the recognition for a job well done from anybody, other than from fellow Firefighters."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Firefighter. "There's a leak", she pronounced. "Lord, it's a tear." "What's the tear for?" asked the angel. "It's a tear from bottled-up emotions for fallen comrades. A tear for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American Flag. It's a tear for all the pain and suffering they have encountered. And it's a tear for their commitment to caring for and saving lives of their fellow man!" "What a wonderful feature Lord, you're a genius" said the angel. The Lord looked somber and said "I didn't put it there."

Firefighters prayer

When I'm called to duty god
wherever flames may rage
give me strength to save a life
whatever be its age

Help me to 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
to 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 neighbor and
protect his property

And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife

My Brother



My Brother has fallen; no, I don't know his name.
Have not the same parents still family all the same.
He lives in this town, I live in another,
It doesn't really matter 'cause this man is my Brother.
My Brother I call him, yet I've never seen his face.
I have brothers and sisters all over the place!
You see I am a Firefighter and our families are one.
Around the world, a brotherhood of unity,
A closeness, a bond, most people don't see.
I'll watch his back; She'll watch mine,
"You go, I go," time after time.
His family's my family, Her family theirs,
We're part of one family where everyone cares,
I'll look after your kids, please look in on my wife,
Should that day finally come when I laid down my life.
We dedicate our lives helping our fellow man,
Living day after day doing all that we can,
Where ever we're needed whether nighttime or day,
To save the life of another we'll step in harms way.
My Brother has fallen doing what he loved best,
And among the Honored, he now stands with the rest
For a mile in dress uniform here everyone stands,
For my Brother has fallen, God into your hands.

Firefighters Courage

A bright shining morning starts like any other

A call comes in to the station, firefighters needed again

They rush to the scene, along with their brothers

Come from other companies to answer the call

Two buildings are on fire, after the cruelest of attacks

Many people trapped inside fighting to get out

In they run, those firefighters, to save as many as they can

Never once worried about their own safety

Only the safety of the people trapped inside

Higher and higher they go, always looking for more

Full of courage and determination they go on

A building rumbles, a building falls, so many trapped inside

Firefighters lost, more than ever before in history

Why did they continue to climb ever higher?

Didnt they know the danger they faced?

I say they did know, as they do everyday

But they climbed ever higher, because thats where the victims lay

Duty and courage, honor and determination ruled their hearts

While so many were running away from the horror

These firefighters ran towards it with one thought on their minds

We must help rescue these people

They gave their lives in the line of duty

A nation mourns their loss

And will never forget their sacrifice

God bless those firefighters

For showing the world what true courage is

Rest in peace my brothers, youve earned it



I dedicate this to my fellow firefighters who risk so much everyday. Most especially I dedicate this to those brave firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrafice on September 11, 2001, and their families. You are an inspiration to us all. Roger Arlo Brown

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