Man Down: Firefighters End of Watch

Every day first responders know they're putting it all on the line. They know they could very well be lacing up their boots, strapping on their gear, and be saying I love you to their families and friends for the last time. They run into chaos, when everyone else is running out. They witness horrors unleashed by nature, and mankind every single day. And we live with the ghosts of it. Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, the Military we are the line that keep the wolves at bay.

For some it could be their first call. For others the call may never come. And for many, a call will come that unites them as a small group forever. Yet these calls don't just rattle a few. These calls shake entire houses, units, organizations, families to their very core. 

Today I've sat here at work and watched the numbers move up. A call that seems so common to so many this time of year, and is frequently pushed aside for the same reason. A wildland fire. As of this time 19 firefighters have been confirmed as down in Prescott, AZ. As a nation it's shocking. For the community, it's ravaging. And for the houses they belonged to, their families, and friends, it's a nightmare. 

In times such as this, people want to know the why. But there is none for them to know. People want to know if it's really worth it. But it too will remain unanswered to their satisfaction. As someone who one stood the line of first response, I can answer these things. Yes, it is worth it. Even in a thankless world, where you see little good, and a lot of bad, it's worth it. It's worth it because at the end of it all, you're actions have made a difference somewhere. Even if it's only for one person, that is enough. It's enough if because you represent hope, where some have none. You represent respect, where many have lost it. You represent light when people are in their darkest of times. 

We all know we'll die eventually. We hope we'll live forever. But if we have to go, we hope to go peacefully in our sleep, surrounded by loved ones. Tragically that's not always the case. As a nation, most will never know the names of those that have gone down in the line of duty today. Nor will they know the names of others that will make the ultimate sacrifice. But that's okay. Because first responders answer to many names. Names that we all know and call them by. And today's will live on forever in the spirit that is our firefighter, and our heroes. 

Today, 19 of our guardians have died to keep the wolf at bay. 19 people we'll remember when we think of our heroes, and the sacrifices they make to keep everyone else safe. To Prescott, AZ my heart and thoughts are will you and your families. 

Meaning of Memorial Day

Memorial Day. It's an annual holiday which honors those whose paid the ultimate price for our country, and the many freedoms we have. Originally it was to honor the deceased troops of the Civil War, but quickly spread to honor all of the fallen. Unlike Veterans Day, it is only to honor the dead. Something that many people have forgotten, or take for granted and instead look towards family gatherings, an extra day off of work, and BBQ's. But many others still recognize it as well. And it truly holds a different meaning for the average civilian when compared to service members, and their families.

As of this morning, many people started enjoying parades, stalking up for various festivities, cleaning up the boat, and then some. For many of these people, Memorial Day doesn't hold much meaning. It's not a shot at them, but they just don't know anything else because they've never been directly impacted by this day of remembrance. They might know on an academic level what it represents, but beyond that there is nothing. 

Then you have those who have been touched in some way. Perhaps it's by a friend lost, or hurt in service. Possibly a veteran they met while volunteering at a retirement home, or helped at a shelter. Whatever the circumstance, they know that this is a day that represents a bigger picture than they realize. They go out to homes, and churches to help those veterans to pay their respects to fallen comrades. They go out to graveyards, clean them up, place flags, and possibly help others find the markers of the fallen warriors they're looking for. And yet others even go beyond that and do what they can to ensure that none of the graves are disturbed or vandalized.

You have the families of our warriors. They spend countless hours wondering if their fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, uncles, cousins, husbands, and wives are alright. They worry about them even when out training. They worry when they are out at their daily jobs. Then they worry when they are deployed. Seeing and hearing the news of an accident, ambush, or attack and wondering if their loved one will be next, while seeing their neighbor get the news that someone will not be coming home to them ever again. To the Memorial Day represents their lost loved ones, lost friends, and their loved ones family away from home.

Ultimately you have service members. The men and women who raised their hand, swore an oath, and signed a blank check up to and including their very life. Memorial Day has a special meaning. We remember those who came before us. We remember those we called brother and sister, who have been called for duty by our Commander-in-Chief in the sky. For some it's a hard day, because to a point we feel that we are having it crammed down our throats that we've lost a part of our family. For others it's a good reminder that we have life to live for them and to make it count. We reflect on our fights, as much as we do our accomplishments. While some of us will let our eyeballs sweat, others will drown their sorrow in something else. But ultimately, we remember. We remember because for us Memorial Day isn't a holiday. It isn't a news report. It isn't a parade, or a BBQ. It's a face, a voice, a friend, a family member, a part of ourselves.

To those who have fallen, thank you. You are not forgotten. Semper Fidelis.