Yesterday... I spent a portion of yesterday reflecting as I am sure all Americans did. We had witnessed another great tragedy on live TV and we saw images over and over again that will haunt us. Although this page is about firefighting and fire safety I felt it was appropriate to shares some of my thoughts about yesterday and how they related to America and in some cases how they related to the fire service as well in some cases. My first thoughts are for those families of the missing astronauts and all of their co-workers. Yesterday...I once again was reminded of how fragile life is. Yesterday...The nation, Israel and India lost some brave citizens who were truly in the service of others. Yesterday...I was reminded that the space program assists us in everyday lives by technology advances, medical advances, the Internet, satellites, cell phones and all of those things we take for granted. As firefighters we have nomex fabrics, Scott Aviation breathing apparatus, communication systems and other every day devices directly as a result of technology from out space program. Yesterday... I was reminded again that no space mission, fire or rescue response is routine. It is not over until all members are back safely where they belong. Yesterday...I heard Walter Cronkite describe astronauts as people who had taken their first act of bravery when they became test pilots. It was so strikingly familiar to the words of Chief Edward Croker in the early 1900's when he said the same thing about firefighters taking their first act of bravery when they took their oath of office. Yesterday...I watched the President of the United States deliver an extremely difficult message to us all. Whether you like him, hate him, voted for him or not, I think you can only imagine what pressure and stress that was. Yesterday...I watched and heard statements of brave families who said that their loved ones have not died in vain and we should continue our mission. How extraordinary that is and how many times I have heard families of firefighters say the same thing. Yesterday... I witnessed the camaraderie of the astronauts and the workers in the NASA family. Yesterday...I realized that all of the people that lost their lives were around my age. That is too young to die. Yesterday...I realized that an event that occurred 200,000 feet above the sky sent flaming debris to the ground and resulted in local fire departments being called to the scene as the first ones to respond in many cases. Yesterday...is just that. Passed, gone by us, and we cannot change that at all. It has gone forever and left an indelible mark upon us all. Yesterday... I heard June Scobee Rodgers (the wife of the commander of the Challenger shuttle that was destroyed 17 years ago say) "The world knew how our loved ones died. We wanted the world to know how they lived." I cannot tell you how much that impacted me. These are people with families friends, dreams, and goals. I guess when we think about it we should remember and never forget yesterday, but we should move forward, determine what has happened, and never allow ourselves not to IMAGINE what is and can be possible for our country and all of us as individuals. Do what astronauts do...IMAGINE. It can bring us all comfort. |
