Aptly named after the rains that occurred during the recent memorial services in New York City. It wasn't really rain, but "Tears from Heaven," as mentioned at several FDNY funerals.
Two of the largest firefighter memorial services ever held took place last month in Washington, D.C., during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, and in New York City, at the FDNY Memorial Day Service at Madison Square Garden. One of our contributing editors, Chief Bill Goldfeder, summed up the New York City ceremonies: "This year's memorial service couldn't have been more properly, appropriately or professionally done considering the enormously tragic events in the past two years. All those involved in coordinating the day and the day's events did an absolutely superb job in honoring those who were lost and murdered … as well as the deep honor and respect shown toward the family members." May I add a "job well done" to all of those involved in the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Washington, D.C. Please see our coverage of both memorials, starting on page 52.
The following poem (author unknown) was submitted by retired firefighter and Firehouse® subscriber George Schafer of Roselle, NJ. The poem conveys the sentiments of the numerous memorials held recently across the country:
The Creation of a Fireman
When the Lord was creating Firefighters, he was in his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're 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 everyday 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 pair of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pair of hands … no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pair 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 they can look for 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 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 an American flag. It's for 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."
