A Tribute to the 9/11 Firefighters…

We were each touched in different ways by the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  We all remember exactly what we were doing when we first heard the news and I’m sure most of us spent hours in front of the television watching in absolute horror.  I recall nearly jumping out of my skin at loud noises for close to a year following 9/11 and I wasn’t even personally affected in the sense that I don’t live in New York and I didn’t know anyone involved at the time.  Still, it was a national tragedy, one that touched us all.

A year or two after 9/11, my husband decided to become a volunteer firefighter and later, an emergency medical responder.  Here in Oklahoma, rural and volunteer fire departments provide 95% of Oklahoma’s fire protection.  These guys willingly give up their own time to protect their neighbors, often in dangerous situations.  And they do it without monetary compensation.   I have seen first-hand the dedication these men and women exhibit.  I’m so very, very proud of my husband and all the other firefighters who put their lives on the line for others. 

(*Note: I had just typed the line above when David’s fire pager went off.  As he finished buckling his pants and putting on a belt, I put his hair into a ponytail (my minuscule contribution!) and he’s off.)

Today, as we remember those whose lives were taken on September 11, 2001, let us also remember the ones who willingly put their lives on the line to save others. The events that occurred at The World Trade Center claimed the lives of 343 courageous firefighters.  May we never forget their sacrifice and that of their families.