"WE GO THROUGH HELL SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO"
- JOHN GODFREY SAXE
WHEN I AM CALLED TO DUTY, GOD,
WHEREVER FLAMES MAY RAGE
GIVE ME STRENGTH TO SAVE A LIFE
WHATEVER BE IT'S AGE
HELP ME EMBRACE THE LITTLE CHILD
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
OR SAVE AN OLDER PERSON FROM
THE HORRORS OF THAT FATE
ENABLE ME TO BE ALERT
AND HEAR THE WEAKEST SHOUT,
AND QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY
PUT THE FIRE OUT
I WANT TO FILL MY CALLING
AND TO GIVE THE BEST IN ME
TO GUARD MY EVERY NEIGHBOR
AND TO PROTECT HIS PROPERTY
AND, IF ACCORDING TO MY FATE
I AM TO LOOSE MY LIFE
PLEASE BLESS WITH YOUR PROTECTING HAND
MY CHILDREN AND MY WIFE
He's the guy next door- a man's man with the memory of a little boy, never gotten over the excitment of the engines and sirens and dangers. He's a guy like you and me with wants and worries and unfulfilled dreams
Yet he stands taller than most of us. He is a Fireman. He puts it all on the line when the siren blows. A fireman is at once the most fortunate and least fortunate of men. He saves lives because he has seen too much death. He's gentle because he has seen awesome power out of control. He's responsive to a child's laughter because his arms have held small bodies that will never laugh again. He appreciate's the simplest of things- hot coffee, held in froze, unbending fingers- a warm bed for bones and muscles compelled beyond feeling- the camraderie of brave men- the divine peace of selfless service of a job well done for the good of all. When he marches, it is to honor his comrades. He doesn't have to preach the brotherhood of man; He lives it.
His heart pounding in his chest, his mind racing, the warrior pushes into the thick of battle. He advances through the chaos, looking, listening, feeling for signs of his enemy at every turn. He knows what his enemy is capable of, but his fears are over come because he knows his own capabilities. He is compelled to meet the enemy on his own ground and destroy him.
He makes his way through the battlefield, each step carefully placed, every decision calculated, every nerve in his body standing on end. Searching for his foe in the darkness, he can feel his presence. The fight is close at hand.
The warrior has trained long and hard for this moment. He knows his enemies stengths and weaknesses. He can anticipate his enemies next move, and knows what must be done to annihilate him. The enemy gives away his position, and the final confrontation takes place. The warrior kneels, raises his weapon, takes careful aim, and opens his nozzle....
When the Lord was creating Firefighters, he was into his sixth day of
overtime when an angel appeared and said, "Your 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 every day 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 pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems, " said the Lord, "it's
the three pairs 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 that they can look
for the 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 that 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 the American Flag. It's 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." - Author Unknown
The Saracen's weapon was fire! As the Crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were attacked by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming tree into their midst. Hundreds of Knights were burned alive. Others risked their lives to save their brothers in arms from dying painful deaths. Thus, these men became the first fire fighters...and the first of a long list of courageous Fire Fighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow Crusaders who awarded each hero with a badge of honor- a cross similar to the one Fire Fighters wear today.
Since the Knights of St. John lived for nearly four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea, named Malta, the Cross became known as the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection.It means that the Fire Fighter that wears this Cross is willing to lay down his life, just as the Crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow men so many years ago.
The Maltese Cross is a Fire Fighter's Badge of Courage... a ladder's-rung away from death.
