Updated: Saturday, December 10, 1999 - 5 AM
IAFF President Whitehead's Memorial Service Speech
IAFF General President Al Whitehead's speech at the Memorial Service for
Worcester's bravest
There are givers and there are takers in this world and fire fighters are truly givers. They give of themselves, on the job and off, and sometimes they give their lives to protect the lives and property of others.
That is what happened here in Worcester last Friday night when six of our fire fighters joined the ranks of the IAFF's bravest of the brave.
It is unfortunate, but in ours, the most dangerous profession, the specter of death is something fire fighters must face. From the time they leave the academy, every fire fighter understands that the next alarm may be their last. They understand the risks they face on every fire, large or small, and that death or serious injury… may be around the next corner. This is one of the tragic truths of our job and all of us acknowledge that when we choose to become fire fighters.
Every fire fighter is an individual and in many ways we're all very different. But when it comes to our profession, we're all very much the same…
In an era when heroes are hard to find, few would dispute that fire fighters are America's heroes. At a time when bravery is in short supply, fire fighters demonstrate the essence of bravery. Although some suggest that the notion of duty has been forgotten, fire fighters epitomize what duty really means. And in a society where sacrifice is seldom practiced, fire fighters are too often called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Rarely do fire fighters talk about the dangers that are an ever-present part of their job. They don't talk about the suffering they see and the pain they feel in the course of their normal workday. If you are not one of us, you don't know this. But this is who we are. This is what we do.
Every fire fighter and paramedic in this arena and every IAFF member across the U.S. and Canada understand what I am saying. Fire fighters know they can count on each other whether they are the best of friends or they have never met.
This is a bond that every fire fighter shares. It is a bond that knows no geographic boundaries. And it is that very bond, that strong kinship, that guarantees, without question, that fire fighters will do whatever is necessary to try and rescue their brother or sister fire fighters from treacherous infernos like that horrific fire last Friday.
Here in Worcester four of our six fallen heroes remain entombed in that smoldering warehouse. It is a tragedy of epic proportions. But as fire fighter Frank Raffa, the President of the Worcester Fire Fighters Local 1009, made clear in his remarks: the Worcester Fire Fighters will not give up and they will not rest until they deliver these fallen heroes to their families.
Even as we honor these heroes here today, the recovery efforts continue at the warehouse site. There is not a fire fighter or paramedic in this hall today who would question that decision because such determination is also a part of who we are.
As with all fire fighters, these six fire fighters were ready and willing to lay their lives on the line to protect the citizens of Worcester and in this case, that’s exactly what happened.
I can assure you that our fire fighters here in Worcester will continue to perform their sworn duties and put the lives of your citizens ahead of their own. They would have it no other way because there is no other way.
When these fallen fire fighters are recovered from that warehouse and laid to rest life will return to normal for most citizens of Worcester. But for the loved ones.... and the many friends these fire fighters left behind life will never be the same.
Nothing can erase the grief and sorrow you feel over your loss, but I hope and pray you can take comfort in knowing that there was abundant meaning in their lives. Take heart in knowing that they were engaged in an endeavor that is a measure of human greatness and that they will always be remembered for their, courage, honor, and selfless dedication
Always remember that they made a difference in this world because they died doing something that mattered.
I extend my deepest sympathies to each of the families and offer you sincere condolences from the 232,000 members of the International Association of Fire Fighters. I promise you that we will keep their memory alive in our hearts and our minds. Their names will be enshrined on the marble wall of honor at the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs so that all fire fighters…. present and future will never forget the sacrifices they made.
I know that every fire fighter across the world is praying for completion of the recovery activities so that each of the families can seek closure. And I know that each of these men has earned a special place in heaven.
May they rest in peace.
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