When I'm called to duty God wherever flames may rage
give me strength to save a life whatever be its age
Help me to 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 to 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 neighbor and protect his property

And if according to your will I have to lose my life
Bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife

I wish you could see the sadness of a business man as his livelihood goes up in flames, or that family returning home, only to find their house and belongings damaged or lost for good.

I wish you could see what it is like to search a burning bedroom for trapped children, 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 comprehend a wife's horror at 3 am as I checked her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. We start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is to late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done too try to save his life.

I wish you knew 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 understand how it feels to go to work in the morning after having spent most of the night, hot and soaking wet at a multiple alarm fire, or spending the night running on EMS calls for people who are in need of help and assistance.

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 an EMS 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 and Daddy" again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine 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 sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her parents reactions going to be when they opened the door to find a police officer with hat in hand?"

I wish you could understand what it is like to have someone grab onto you with a grip so tight and plead for you to not let them die, and to cut them out of this vehicle so they can go home. or they ask you to tell their loved one that they do Love them and they are sorry, when they are dying in your arms as you try everything in your power to save them.

I wish you could understand what it is like to deal with a drunk in the middle of the night, they spit on you and are verbally abusive to you when you try to help them.

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 feel the hurt as people verbally, and sometimes physically abuse us or belittle what we I do, or 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 forgone 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 someones 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? " and not even being able to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to say. Or you to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy having rescue breathing done on him as they take him away in the ambulance. You know all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have become too familiar with.

And finally I wish you could understand what it is like to go on a call, and to find out that a child has shot another child, and to pull out every trick in your book to save the child from death but you lose in the end.

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 though.

And a special thank you to our families. You support us when duty calls.God Bless You.

Submitted to me by Terri Kaduck
Thank You Terri

A Fireman's Life

A fireman's life is one big surprise,
Usually he laughs, sometimes he cries.
There's always stress,toil and strife,
Hoping he's good enough to save just one life
His wife understands, when he misses dinner,
If he runs out of church, don't think he's a sinner.
Answering a call, is tops on his list,
Regretting each one he's ever missed.
He tries and tries, but can't make us see,
The happiest men still work for free..

Jumping from bed,fighting the cold,
Knowing what to do, without being told.
He rushes to the station, jumps on a truck.
Depending on skill, never on luck.
Putting his life on the line, for an unknown friend,
Hoping and praying, it won't be the end.

"The Bravest Men In The World", the title is fitting,
They all do their best never come close to quitting
Next time you see them, all their lights blinking,
Take just a minute to think what they're thinking.
It's a hard job, so show them you care,
And help them out, with a little prayer.

Written by: © Daniel S Driscoll All Rights Reserved
No part of this poem may be reproduced or used in any way Submitted to me by Terri Kaduck
Thank You So Very Much Terri