When I am called to duty, God,
Where’re the flames may rage,
Give me strength to save some life
Whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child
Before it is too late,
Or save some older person from
The horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert,
And hear the weakest shout
And quickly and effectively
To put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
And give the best in me.
To guard my every neighbor
And protect his property;
And if according to Your will,
I have to lose my life
Please bless with Your protecting hand
My children and my wife.
Amen.
author unknown.
The role of the volunteer firefighter throughout
the country
has been changing daily, with new federal, state
and local mandates.
The volunteer firefighter of today must be willing
to make these changes,
to grow with his department. The dangers to the
volunteer firefighter
are no greater or less then that of the
professional firefighter.
We must be willing to make the changes and upgrade
our skills
at every opportunity to maintain our
professionalism as volunteers.
For those who wish to join us, I thank you ahead
of time
for your dedication to the volunteer service.
The time and effort you put in training will never
end until you
retire from the service. The expert firefighter is
always smart
enough to know to always ask the questions.
THE BURNED OUT CHRISTMAS POEM
T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THROUGH THE STATION,
EVERYONE'S COMPLAINING WHO'S NOT ON VACATION.
THERE IS NO STOCKINGS HUNG AND NOBODY CARES,
YOU MAY FIND SOME CANDY IN THE CUSHIONS OF THE CHAIRS.
THE MORAL IS AS HIGH AS A CENTIPEDES CHIN,
WAITING IN LIMBO FOR THE CRAP TO BEGIN.
AND RIGHT ON SCHEDULE THE PHONE STARTS TO SING,
WE NEED TO GO PICK UP A DRUNK DING-A-LING.
AFTER RUNNING ALL NIGHT WE THEN GET TO BED,
PUFF UP OUR PILLOWS AND DESCEND OUR HEADS.
MY PARTNER LETS OUT ONE HECK OF A YAWN,
YOU'D BE STUPID TO WAKE HIM UNTIL IT IS DAWN.
AND SUDDENLY THERE'S A KNOCK AT THE DOOR,
IT'S SANTA CLAUS AND ITS QUARTER TO FOUR.
"I DEMAND THAT YOU PATCH UP MY THUMB RIGHT AWAY",
"SO I CAN GET ON WITH THE REST OF MY DAY".
SO, NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO BE RUDE,
TO THIS POT-BELLIED JERK WITH THE ATTITUDE.
NO ONE WAKES US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
AND IS RUDE AND DEMANDING AND DON'T GET A FIGHT.
WE DRAGGED HIM INSIDE BY HIS NAPPY HAIR,
AND BEAT HIM SENSELESS ON THE LAZY BOY CHAIR.
WE THEN GOT A CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOUT,
"BY SLEIGH AND RAINDEER MEDIC SEVEN'S IN ROUTE".
copyright 7/4/98 Pabarker
A Volunteer Firefighter's Prayer
God; please, as you tuck them in tonight,.
Keep the children safe..
Let me not have to hear their cries.
From a careless act of fate..
Keep their parents all aware, the fragilness.
Of each young soul..
Don't let them waiver from their role of .
Watching out for them..
Will not, a fire in the night and drag me.
From my slumber..
To listen to the grieving hearts or the .
Gratitude of others..
I don't want to hear the siren for an.
Auto wreck tonight..
I've untangled enough twisted metal.
With the Jaws of Life..
And when I wake tomorrow, grant me patience.
When I see,.
A mother driving with her child.
Without a safety seat..
Grant me wisdom in the situations I might .
face with each new day,.
In case, by chance, there might be.
a newborn on the way..
Just in case I lose the fight for someone's .
Life I battled,.
Remind me that I'm fallible, just as human.
As the rest..
Give me courage to move on although.
It may not be enough..
And let me always give my best..
Laurie Wood
A PARAMEDIC
A paramedic reflects the value of a humane deed,
when called to serve another's hour of need.
Their missions are grim and training takes years,
expecting no fanfares and least of all cheers.
No restraints on gender or the shade of ones skin.
They're a dedicated group and fraternal within.
Working hand-in-hand with their Fire and Police brothers
they serve their community, and often....many others.
Their movements precise; tending a victim is swift,
when lives are in peril, their mere presence is a gift.
Unique is their concern for saving a life,
a God-given calling in this age of apathy and strife.
It's a labor of love..
. Often given little credit...
Always there when you need them...
The Paramedic
EMS Prayer
As I perform my duty Lord
Whatever be the call,
Help to guide and keep me safe
From dangers big and small.
I want to serve my best
No matter what the scene,
I pledge to keep my skills refined,
My judgement quick and keen.
This calling to give myself
Most do not understand,
But I stand ready all the time
To help my fellow man.
To have the chance to help a child
Restore his laugh with glee,
A word of thanks I might not hear,
But knowing is enough for me.
The praise of men is fine for some,
But I feel truly blessed,
That you, oh Lord have chosen me
To serve in EMS!
Author: L. Lipps
Brother when you weep for me
Remember that it was meant to be
Lay me down and when you leave
Remember I'll be at your sleeve
In every dark and choking hall
I'll be there as you slowly crawl
on every roof in driving snow
I'll hold your coat and you will know
In cellars hot with searing heat
At windows where a gate you meet
In closets where young children hide
You know I'll be there at your side
The house from which I now respond
Is overstaffed with heroes gone
Men who answered one last bell
Did the job and did it well
As firemen we understand
That death's a card dealt in our hand
A card we hope we never play
But one we hold there anyway
That card is something we ignore
As we crawl across a weakened floor
For we know that we're the only prayer
For anyone that might be there
So remember as you wipe your tears
The joy I knew throughout the years
As I did the job I loved to do
I pray that thought will see you through
My Backup Man
Thought I walk into Billowing structure fires
I am not afraid.
For My backup man is right behind me
Ever present in every way.
He has promised me He would always be there,
No matter where I go.
For my backup man is,
My Lord and Savior And I love Him so.
Thank You Lord Jesus,
For being right behind me,
And keeping me out of harms way,
I am grateful to you for loving me this way.
by Gene Beck
The Man We Love
THE CALL CAME OUT AT STATION 3
BUT A SILHOUETTE ON THE AERIAL WAS HE
DRESSED IN BLACK
HIS FACE WAS SCORN
PERCHED HIGH ABOVE DECK GUN IN HAND
HE RODE THE STROM
DUTY CALLED HIM YES ONCE AGAIN
NOT JUST A MAN
BUT A TRUE FRIEND
HE RISKED HIS LIFE FOR THOSE UNKNOWN
THIS WAS HIS LIFE AS BEST HE'D KNOWN
ALWAYS CARING ABOUT THE OTHER
NOT JUST OUR FRIEND
BUT INDEED OUR BROTHER
FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED IS HOW HE STOOD
WE LOVED THIS MAN WITH ALL WE COULD
"TO LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GO TO
SLEEP"
INDEED THIS MOTTO HE DID KEEP
HIS NAME WAS HARVEY
OR JIM WE KNEW
SOME OF HIS BROTHERS CALLED HIM 102
HE SAID HE'D DIE
NOT BY FLAME OR FIRE
THE CAPTAIN RESTS NOW MUCH HIGHER
A BRIGHT LIGHT SHOWN
BUT JUST ONCE MORE
THE LORD HAD APPEARED THROUGH THE DOOR
IN ALL OUR SADNESS
WE DO WEEP
FOR BROTHER JIM IS NOW ASLEEP
WE'LL REMINISCE
REJOICE
WE'LL CRY
FOR OUR BROTHER STILL WATCHES US
BUT FROM THE SKY...
AUTHOR DAVID HARPER (NEW WHITELAND
FIREFIGHTER AND BROTHER FOREVER)
In memory of Capt. James T. Harvey of
the Greenwood Fire Dept. who lost his
life on Aug. 13, 1994. He will forever
be dearly missed by all of us!
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