In Memoriam |
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| I lost a dear friend today that I never even knew. Oh, I
recognized the face I'd seen so many times before. Covered with soot, dirt and sweat and
showing the pain from a body pushed way beyond the limit. I didn't know his hobbies or his
favorite foods; until today I didn't even know the name. It didn't matter at the moment if
the name was Bill or Larry or Monica or Sue. What mattered most was that the loss was a
fellow firefighter. You see, being a firefighter is much more than showing up for work and drawing a paycheck. It's a commitment to your fellow man to be there when you are needed. It's a brotherhood of individuals with a common bond of service to others and a giving of your all so that others don't suffer. It's rushing into situations that everyone else is doing everything they can to escape. It's fighting with your entire heart, body and soul to save the life that is so desperately in need of your tender, loving care. It's living the very embodiment of the term "public servant". My friend lived that commitment to the fullest, which is how I learned the name. In his final call he rushed in as he had so many times before. This time however, he paid the ultimate price. He had always been there for others, but now we gather for him. This we do to pay our respects for a hero; not because he died, but because he lived and served his fellow man well. As we pay our respects we pause and realize that for some greater reason unknown to us, there lies my friend instead of me. As I ponder the events that led me here, words alone cannot express the intense sorrow and yet, overwhelming pride that is felt. Until today, I didn't know the name but I knew him well...my friend was a fellow firefighter. Dedicated to all who have served their fellow man and made their final call. |
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| Dennis Rutledge
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