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Never Forget 343
Gave It All On
 9-11-2001
Current Threat Level

• Heroes

• Firefighters Prayer

• Fire Officers Prayer

• Fire Chiefs code of Ethics

• Firefighters Pledge

• Ode to Volunteers

• Volunteers

• I Wish You Could Know

• A Mother’s Prayer

• Reminder

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If you're looking for a hero, a role model, you don't
have to look very far. You see, a hero isn't someone who hit
s home runs or scores touchdowns
in front of thousands of cheering fans.
A hero is an average citizen who does something extraordinary
to help someone else in need.
A hero is a firefighter who runs into a burning building,
never thinking of himself.
And if you want to find one of these heroes,
all you have to do is look next-door
at your neighbor or your uncle. Or across the
breakfast table at your own dad.

-The Honorable Raymond Mariano,
Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts
-Worcester Fallen Firefighters' Memorial Service,
December 9, 1999
 

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Fire Chief's Code of Ethics

International Association of Fire Chiefs
December 5, 1997
 
FIRE CHIEF'S CODE OF ETHICS

Recognize that we serve in a position of public trust that imposes responsibility
to use publicly owned resources effectively and judiciously.
 
Keep in mind our obligation not to seek advantages or
favors for ourselves, friends or family.
 
Use information gained by virtue of our positions only for the benefit
of those we are entrusted to serve.
 
Conduct our personal affairs in such a manner that we cannot be improperly
influenced in the performance of our duties.
 
Recognize and avoid situations wherein our decisions or recommendations may
have an impact on our personal financial interests.
 
Seek no favor and accept no form of personal reward
for influence or official action.
 
Engage in no outside employment or professional activities that may impair
or appear to be in conflict with our primary responsibilities as fire officials.
 
Handle all personal matters on the basis of merit.
 
Carry out policies established by elected officials and policy makers to the
best of our ability, even when they are contrary to our recommendations.
 
Refrain from financial investments or business that conflicts with, or
is enhanced by, our official positions.
 

Dear Lord, we call upon You for strength and guidance.
Look kindly upon us in our needs.

Teach us to look always to You for assistance, as our fellow
firefighters and citizens look to us.

Give us courage, that we may impart courage and leadership to others.
Make us studious, and give us pride and joy in our work.

When the gong sounds, calling us to our duty, give us speed and efficiency.

As our siren wails, ride with us on our way, shielding us from danger.

On the emergency scene, may our firefighters work as
a cautious, courageous and victorious team.

Walk with us through the terror of flame and explosion.

May our hearts be always ready if we should be summoned before
our Eternal Chief in the midst of our labors.

Through our ministrations to our suffering fellow men, we dedicate our
lives humbly to Your praise and glory.

In joy or sorrow, we ask only that you may be pleased with our service,
that when the Last Alarm shall have sounded for us, we may
receive our eternal assignment with you.

Amen.

I promise concern for others.
A willingness to help all those in need.
Promise courage - courage to face
and 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.

"I Wish You Could Know"

I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom
for trapped children at 3 AM, flames rolling above your head,
your palms and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under
your weight as the kitchen below you burns.

I wish you could know a wife's horror at 6 in the morning as I
check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR
anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But
wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done to try
to save his life.

I wish you could know the unique smell of burning insulation, the
taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your
turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being
able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that I've
become too familiar with.

I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire "Is this a
false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? What
hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?"
Or to a call, "What is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or life threatening?
Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for us with
a 2x4 or a gun?"

I wish you could be in the emergency room as a doctor
pronounces dead the beautiful five year old girl that I have been trying
to save during the past 25 minutes, who will never go on her first date
or say the words, "I love you Mommy" again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the
engine, squad, or my personal vehicle, the driver with his foot
pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at
the air horn chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at an
intersection or in traffic. When you need us however, your first
comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!"

I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl
of teenage years from the remains of her automobile. "What
if this was my daughter, sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What
were her parents reaction going to be when they opened the door
to find a police officer with hat in hand?"

I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and
greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I
nearly did not come back from the last call.

I wish you could know how it feels dispatching officers,
firefighters and EMT's out and when we call for them and our
heart drops because no one answers back or to here a bone
chilling 911 call of a child or wife needing assistance.

I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally, and sometimes
physically, abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express
their attitudes of "It will never happen to me."

I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental
drain or missed meals, lost sleep and missed social activities, in
addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen.

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction
of helping save a life or preserving someone's property,
or being able to be there in time of crisis, or creating order from
total chaos.

I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little
boy tugging at your arm and asking, "Is Mommy okay?" Not
even being able to look in his eyes without tears from your own
and not knowing what to say. Or to have to hold back a long time
friend who watches his buddy having CPR done on him as they
take him away in the Medic Unit.

You know all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation
that I have become too familiar with.

Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly
understand or appreciate who I am, we are, or what our job really
means to us...I wish you could know.

Author Unknown

“A Mother’s Prayer” 

 The alarm goes off, ready to go, all with no hesitation
Time to save a soul or a home, straight to that destination
 
This prayer’s for my son, as that fire calls
Protecting the innocent and fighting flaming walls
 
Guide him with your strength, the courage to pull him through
Give him that breath of air, if he gets down to his last few
 
By chance he may get weak; do give him the will to stand
Carry him as you said, your” Foot Prints in the Sand”
 
He will have to lift or ax a door today
May your angels chip away, helping along the way
 
There’s always the unknown, of what they call “back draft”
Secure your arms around him, and the others who have his back
 
Make way for him to listen, to hear that persons call
If he gets blinded, give him sight, direct him down that hall
 
Determined to break a window, to rescue that angry dog
Or fight the wild fires, to keep lands beauty how it belongs
 
Keep there team in motion, to know where one is at
There’re taking turns in and out, of these fires that attack
 
When that duties done, he’ll have peace of mind
You were right beside him; he now thanks you for your time
 
Lord I ask this of you, I pray you watch over him
Help him always save the lives, then return him to me again.
 
“Dedicated to my Son and to all Firefighter’s”
(Written by Carolyn Kay Carr)

Hello, My name is Carolyn Carr and I would like to share with
you the poem I wrote. I thank you all for what you do.God Bless.
Please feel free to pass this on. Thank you. If you don’t mind, can
you let me know when you receive this please. Thanks again!

Carolyn Carr (From Florida)

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It's always a good time to remind folks of the dedication
demonstrated by firefighters worldwide.
Firefighters have a special dedication to their job.
They train physically, mentally and emotionally
to be able to perform their duties
They willingly put their lives at risk to
save lives, homes, and natural resources.