In April, I attended the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) dinner, and along with getting together with many old friends and fire service luminaries, I was treated to a keynote speech by the vice president of the United States. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent, sometimes a politician or other elected official just hits the nail on the head with some words of wisdom. That’s what happened that evening in Washington, D.C. Following are some of the things that Vice President Biden said (paraphrased).
From the VPOTUS
I know who you are. You are the guy who lives next door and runs out the door at all hours of the day and night. Sometimes we are having a conversation about what’s going on in the neighborhood or at the office when you are called to respond to an accident out on the interstate or to a house fire on Main Street. You just are suddenly driving down the street toward some unknown danger or challenge.
You are the firefighter on duty at the downtown firehouse who is walking with a class of sixth-graders on a tour of the station. You tell them about the many tasks and responsibilities that firefighters have. You show them the protective gear that you must wear to keep you safe in toxic atmospheres. You demonstrate the emergency medical procedures that you often must perform on injured or ill citizens. The information you are providing is inspiring some of those boys and girls, and a few of them may just end up in public service careers because of it.
You are the volunteer firefighter who is working the Sunday morning pancake breakfast at the firehouse. Not only does this event raise funds that the company can use to purchase new equipment like a medical defibrillator or a thermal imaging camera, but it also provides a place for some of the community’s older folks to come out and socialize with their neighbors. This event attracts firefighters from some of your neighboring fire companies who come to support you, just as you have for them.
You are the firefighters who are standing on the corner collecting donations with a fire boot or helmet for some of America’s most deadly and dreaded diseases. Some of you spending hours out there on your off-duty days to help those who may not be able to help themselves. Some of these same firefighters perform similar work for the local hospital or nursing home or veterans organization.
You are the folks who head toward the firehouse when the storm sirens sound. Everyone else in town is heading home, but not you. Someone must be at the firehouse, ready to respond if the storm does hit your community.
You are the people at the firehouse who set up the generators and cots at the fire station during the last power outage. So many of the people in the community had no lights or heat or food. The firehouse was lit up brightly with the generator you all worked so hard to purchase. Inside, the apparatus floor area was converted to a large bunkroom with cots and blankets and pillows. The aroma of chicken soup and coffee hung in the air, and everyone in town was safe in the hands of their firefighters.
You are the CPR instructors who provide free medical training classes at the firehouse for the citizens. Young and old people show up and learn the skills they need to save the lives of the family, friends and even strangers at the supermarket. You not only save lives, you teach the rest of us how to do it, too.
You are the fire engine parked at the elementary school on the first day of classes in September, warning motorists to slow down in the school zone and watch out for our most treasured citizens—our kids.
You are the firefighters riding around our neighborhood with Santa in December, handing out candy canes to the kids and listening to their requests for a favorite toy. You are also the firefighters who show up at a few homes with gifts on Christmas Eve for the children of a family that is suffering through tough times.
Yes, I know who you are and I know who we are. We are America’s firefighters and we all part of a bright and proud tradition. Yes, we fight fires and provide EMS to our communities, but we also do much more—much more!
