Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week

By Diane Forrest

During the recent bombing at the Boston Marathon, two policemen were shot, one died.  This was a senseless death, and the young officer left behind.

Sean Collier, age 27, of Somerville, formerly of Wilmington, April 18, 2013 in the line of duty. Son of Allen Collier of Alton, NH and Kelley (Kelleher) Rogers and stepson of Joseph Rogers of Wilmington.  Grandson of William and Ella (Foley) Kelleher of Woburn. Brother of Nicole Lynch & her husband Brendan of Dracut, Jennifer Lemmerman & her husband John of Melrose, Robert Rogers of Dedham, Jennifer Rogers of S. Boston and Andrew Collier of Concord, NC.

He was a young man, just doing his job when the bomber came up to his car, shot him several times, ending his life, and his unknown future, maybe marriage, children.

This is not an isolated event.  Criminals scared of getting caught kill officers all over the country.

President Obama has declared this week Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2013.  Read the Proclamation below.
Day after day, police officers in every corner of America suit up, put on the badge, and carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve. They step out the door every morning without considering bravery or heroics. They stay focused on meeting their responsibilities. They concentrate on keeping their neighborhoods safe and doing right by their fellow officers. And with quiet courage, they help fulfill the demanding yet vital task of shielding our people from harm. It is work that deserves our deepest respect -- because when darkness and danger would threaten the peace, our police officers are there to step in, ready to lay down their lives to protect our own.
This week, we pay solemn tribute to men and women who did. Setting aside fear and doubt, these officers made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the rule of law and the communities they loved. They heard the call to serve and answered it; braved the line of fire; charged toward the danger. Our hearts are heavy with their loss, and on Peace Officers Memorial Day, our Nation comes together to reflect on the legacy they left us.
As we mark this occasion, let us remember that we can do no greater service to those who perished than by upholding what they fought to protect. That means doing everything we can to make our communities safer. It means putting cops back on the beat and supporting them with the tools and training they need. It means getting weapons of war off our streets and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals -- common-sense measures that would reduce gun violence and help officers do their job safely and effectively.
Together, we can accomplish those goals. So as we take this time to honor law enforcement in big cities and small towns all across our country, let us join them in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow. Our police officers serve and sacrifice on our behalf every day, and as citizens, we owe them nothing less than our full and lasting support.
By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as "Peace Officers Memorial Day" and the week in which it falls as "Police Week."
 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2013, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 12 through May 18, 2013, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also call on Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

 (All images from Google) 

Let's Bring Them Home!

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, recognizing the National League of Families POW/MIA Flag and designating it "as a symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation." Beyond Southeast Asia, it has been a symbol for POW/MIAs from all American Wars.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established to honor Americans held as Prisoners of War and to renew our nation’s commitment to account for US personnel still missing from our nation’s past wars and conflicts.  While earlier Recognition Day events were scheduled during the National League of Families’ annual meetings each summer, a change was needed to ensure all POW/MIAs from all of America’s past wars were included and honored.

In 1986, The National League of Families recommended that the third Friday in September be deemed National POW/MIA Recognition Day, a date not associated with any particular war, nor in conjunction with any organizations’ annual meetings/national convention.

On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, ceremonies take place across the country and around the world to honor and remember our nation’s Prisoners of War and our unreturned veterans, America’s MIAs.

There are 1,741 American personnel listed by the Defense Department's POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, as of April 2009. The number of United States personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 841. About 90 percent of the 1,741 people still missing were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam's wartime control, according to the National League of Families website (cited in the United States Army website).

"Keeping the Promise", "Fulfill their Trust" and "No one left behind" are several of many mottos that refer to the efforts of the Department of Defense to recover those who became missing while serving our nation. 

The mission requires expertise in archival research, intelligence collection and analysis, field investigations and recoveries and scientific laboratories. Hundreds of Defense Department men and women -- both military and civilian -- operators and scientists, work in organizations around the world as part of DoD's personnel recovery and personnel accounting communities. They are all dedicated to the single mission of finding and bringing our missing personnel home.

International Firefighters Day

International Firefighters Day to honor and support firefighters who risk their lives every day to help their communities.  As many of you know, my son-in-law Darrin is Seattle fireman working on the waterfront. It is a special day that I take pride in recognizing and give my sincere thanks to all the men and women do this job. This is a day to honor and support firefighters who risk their lives every day to help their communities.

May 4th has been recognized in many European countries for centuries as Firefighters Day because of Saint Florian. According to legend, St. Florian was able to save an entire burning village in ancient Rome with just a single bucket of water. Because of this act, St. Florian is known today as the protector of those who come in danger of fire.

This holiday did not spread worldwide though until a tragic wildfire in Australia took the lives of five firefighters on January 4, 1999. Consequently, firefighter JJ Edmondson sent out an email proposing an International Firefighters Day to be recognized throughout the world.

The symbol for International Firefighters Day is a red and blue ribbon. The color red was chosen to stand for fire and blue was chosen to represent water. These colors are also known world-wide to signify emergency services.

International Firefighters Day is a great opportunity to learn about fire prevention and safety. It is also a day to thank the firefighters in your community for all that they do to protect you!

What is a fireman?

He is the guy next door - a man's man with the memory of a little boy. He has never gotten over the excitement of engines and sirens and danger.

He is 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 bell rings.

A fireman is at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men.

He is a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death.

He is a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control.

He is responsive to a child's laughter because his arms have held too many small bodies that will never laugh again.

He is a man who appreciates the simple pleasures of life - hot coffee held in numb, unbending fingers - a warm bed for bone and muscle compelled beyond feeling - the camaraderie of brave men - the divine peace and selfless service of a job well done in the name of all men.

He doesn't wear buttons or wave flags or shout obscenities.

When he marches, it is to honor a fallen comrade.

He doesn't preach the brotherhood of man.

He lives it.

Author unknown

The Firefighter's Prayer

This prayer is dedicated to all those who have gone before me and who will follow me in the line

When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage,

Give me the strength to save some life whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an

older person from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently

to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,

to guard my every neighbor and protect his property.

And if according to my fate I am to lose my life this day,

Please bless with your protecting hand my family this I pray.

The last alarm

My father was a fireman.

He drove a big red truck

and when he'd go to work each day

he'd say "Mother wish me luck".

Then Dad would not come home again

'til some time the next day.

But the thing that bothered me the most

was the thing’s some folks would say,

"A fireman's life is easy,

he eats and sleeps and plays,

and sometime's he won't fight a fire

for days and days and day's".

When I first heard these words

I was to young to understand

but I knew when people had trouble

Dad was there to lend a hand.

Then my father went to work one day

and he kissed us all goodbye

but little did we realize

that night we all would cry.

My father lost his life that night

when the floor gave way below

and I'd wondered why he'd risked his life

for someone he didn't know.

But now I truly realize

the greatest gift a man can give

is to lay his life upon the line

so that someone else might live.

So as we go from day to day

and we pray to God above

say a prayer for your local Firemen.

He may save the one's you love.

Carved in stone at the National Monument for

Fallen Firefighters Colorado Springs, Co.

A firefighter poem

HE STARES IN THE FACE OF DEATH

WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT

TO SAVE THAT ONE SPECIAL LIFE

THAT HE SO BRAVELY SOUGHT

HE HAS WALKED AS CLOSE TO

"HELL ON EARTH"

AS ANY MAN COULD DO

AND HE'S SO PROUD OF THE JOB HE DID

FOR PEOPLE HE NEVER KNEW

HE PUTS HIS LIFE ON THE LINE

EVERYTIME DUTY CALLS

ALWAYS DOING WHAT NEEDS TO DONE

WITHOUT EVEN A PAUSE

HE IS A FIREMAN

WITH OVERWHELMING PRIDE

NEVER AFRAID TO TAKE A CHANCE

WHEN SAVING SOMEONES LIFE

OFTEN HE SAYS

"IT'S MY JOB"

BUT WE REALLY KNOW

THAT HE IS VERY SPECIAL

AND ALWAYS READY TO GO

SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE SIRENS WAIL

OR SEE THE FLASHING LIGHTS

STAND ASIDE AND LOOK WITH PRIDE

HE'S GOING TO SAVE A LIFE.

KLB

I THINK FIREMEN DO NOT GET ENOUGH PRAISE......

LIVE LIFE LIKE THERE'S NO TOMMORROW!!!!

By Kathy Bond

A firefighters Pledge

I promise concern for others.

A willingness to help all those in need.

I promise courage - courage to face an conquer my fears.

Courage to share and endure the ordeal of those who need me.

I promise strength - strength of heart to bear whatever burdens

might be placed upon me.

Strength of body to deliver to safety all those placed within my care.

I promise the wisdom to lead, the compassion to comfort,

and the love to serve unselfishly whenever I am called

Author unknow

C A L L W A I T I N G

I'm laying in the darkness, I cannot fall asleep.

I wonder where my husband is, I wish he'd call or beep.

I saw him leave this morning, the black boots on his feet.

He said he had to run now, and I know he's on the street.

You'll know him when You see him, his truck is very loud.

He has no time to stop now, he doesn't want a crowd.

A caller said "Please hurry!" Come quickly if you will.

A young man with a motorbike is laying very still.

A mother calls in anguish, her child limp and blue.

HURRY! Come, I need you! I don't know what to do.

I hear his key turning, he's coming in the door.

I hear him drop his boots, then footsteps on the floor.

I hear him in the kitchen, I can tell from his walk,

He'll soon come and wake me, and ask if we can talk.

We'll sit out in the moonlight, and listen to the night.

He talks about a shooting, a streetgang in a fight.

A car crash, a drowning, a small child hurt at play.

The things he needs to talk about, the things he did today.

The old, the sick, the injured, some so very small.

He did all he could to help them, he answered every call.

Every day he has a mission, he knows it in his heart.

He does everything he can and always does his part.

If you are sick or injured and you need to reach my Hon,

I can tell you how to reach him, his number is ......911.

A Firefighter's Wife

"Can We Make It On Time"

The pagers go off, calling us out.

The dispatcher gives the address, with a loud shout.

I jump out of bed as fast as I can.

Grab my shoes and my keys as they page us again.

I go out to my truck, plug in the dash light.

Cause somewhere in town is a fire I must fight.

Wipeing the sleep from my eyes, I see a bright glow in the distance.

A policeman yells over the radio "Code 3, I need assistance"

He said there is screaming, coming from inside.

I think to myself, someone is trapped, but alive.

The pain they must feel, I can't imagine the scare.

I see the station up the road, the chief's already there.

I pray to God "Please let us get there in time,

To save an unknown life, Lord if you must, instead take mine."

I speed up a little faster, but still driving safe.

Still praying to God that I won't be too late.

I finally get to the station, put on my turn out gear.

The chief starts the fire engine and yells "We're outta here!"

The sirens sound off, the red strobe are so bright,

I pray once again,"Lord watch over us tonight."

I suit up for action putting on the S.C.B.A.

The chief makes the comment "Boys the Devil wants to play!"

We arrive on scene, not ever thinking one time,

"Why am I doing this?" or "Why do I put my life on the line?"

As we observe the silence and think "this person is dead."

All of a sudden I see the shadow of a small head.

Looking real hard, trying to figure out what it is.

Oh dear Lord, it can't be. It's just a small kid.

Then all of sudden the head moved, "this kid's still alive!"

So I try to reassure her by yelling "Everything's gonna be alright!"

I always said "I'd die if it would save another life."

But never once did i think that it could happen tonight.

I run to the front door, Kick it open and run in.

Praying once more,"God, we can't let the Devil win."

Crawling on the floor, moving slowly toward the crying.

I noticed a strong smell and loud hissing. Oh No! It's a gas line!

I knew I had to hurry so I got up and ran towards the cry

I found that little girl, she could barely open her eyes.

The smoke was thick and very hot and getting ready to flash.

I took off my jacket, wrapped her in it and gave her my air mask.

I heard a firefighter outside say, "The roof's coming down,

if they are getting out alive, they better get out right now."

I grabed the young girl as if she were a football,

tucked her in close and ran to the window.

The chief ran up and took her from my arm

My other one's broken, but at least she is out of the way of harm.

Then I remembered the gas line. So I too climbed out the window.

And sure enough, that gas line did blow.

The explosion knocked me down, but I got right back up on my feet.

Took no more than 3 steps, then I hit my knees.

Through my blurred vision, I watched that little girl,

with her mom and dad all crying, having a face with a smile.

She then walked over to me and grabbed me by the hand.

She said isn a soft sweet voice "Thank you Mr. Fireman."

We put out the fire, got ready to go home one more time.

I helped roll the hoses, thanking God that nobody died.

And thank you Dear Lord for letting us be on time.

written by: Jerry L. Duncan Jr.

East Carroll Parish

Fire Department

Lake Providence, LA

Hymm to the Fallen Heros

Young and aged

volunteer and career,

man and woman

of all races and colors,

you left aching hearts behind

An eternal flame

warms your names

inscribed on cold, lifeless plaques

around this stone cairn

In the hearts you left behind

your memories abide

in undying gratitude

You asked nothing more

You knew the risks,

served without fear

and paid the highest price

You embody a quality

of which many only dream

Your selflessness for others

is now your eternal crown

O fallen comrades,

give us all this quality

that we may more fittingly

prolong your memory

Annonymons

June 1999

National Fallen Firefighter Memorial

Emmittsburg, MD

“Fire, fire, fire, Class A fire in compartment …..” every person aboard ship listens up to that announcement over the 1MC – the sound of danger and how close is it.  Am I responsible for that space?  Do I need to respond?  Every sailor aboard has been to firefighting, damage control, and first aid training.  They exercise these skills frequently so they become second nature – no time to look at books…you got to know that stuff.  These brave men and women also hold a special place in my heart.