Washington, DC -- Lynchburg, Virginia, fire fighter Abbey Meacham has been invited to sit with First Lady Michelle Obama tonight during President Obama's address to Congress.
"It's a tremendous honor. We are such a strong union fire department, and it's an honor to represent the IAFF, Lynchburg Local 1146 and the Lynchburg Fire Department," Meacham says.
President Obama repeatedly has urged public officials not to balance their budgets in these difficult economic times by laying off fire fighters and has pointed out that the federal stimulus money allows fire fighters to stay on the job.
"In speech after speech, President Obama demonstrates his respect for professional fire fighters by underscoring the importance of keeping them on the job," IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger says. "Asking one of our own members to sit with the First Lady tonight is further proof of the respect the president has for professional fire fighters and emergency medical professionals and their role in protecting the nation."
Meacham has been a fire fighter/paramedic in the Lynchburg Fire Department since 2004, and she works out of Station 6, the busiest station in Lynchburg.
Meacham is also a certified instructor and teaches fire and EMS courses. She is secretary-treasurer of the Lynchburg Fire Fighters Association, Local 1146 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
