The Creation of A Firefighter

This is A. J. Tarquino... You probably remember me by "Andy"... My job took me to Ohio and I have been away from Culver now, for over twenty something years. My mother and some of my family, brothers and sisters, still reside around the Culver area, so I do return several times a year for visits and I'm still a known runner, and participate in the LakeFest races every year that it's been held for the past 30+ years!

I am impressed with your web site. I have been back several times to it, just browsing and looking at what you placed there...

Keep up your work on the web site... You sure have devoted many, many hours to it..

If you care to, ... Keep in touch with me...

Below is an article I found on the internet and wanted to share it with you... It reminds me about all firemen, Dave included! - - "A. J."

Thanks Andy for this wonderf ul - fitting tribute you found to our firegighters!

The Creation of A Firefighter

~ When the Creator was making Firefighters, he was into his sixth day of overtime when a guide appeared and said, "Your doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And the Creator said "Have you read the specification on this person?~

~ Firefighters have to be able to go for hours fighting fires or tending to a person that the usual every day person wo uld never touch, while putting in the back of their mind the circumstances. They have to be able to move at a second's notice and not think twice of what they are about to do, no matter what danger.~

~ They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on half-eaten meals, and they must have six pairs of hands." The guide shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way." "It's not the hands that are causing me problems, " said the Creator, "it's the three pairs of eyes a Firefighter has to have." That's on the standard model? " asked the guide.~

~ The Creator nodded. " One pair that sees through the fire and where they and their fellow Firefighters sho uld fight the fire next. Another pair here in the side of the head to see their fellow Firefighters and keep them safe. And another pair of eyes in the front so that they can look for the victims caught in the fire that need their help."~

~ "Creator" said the guide, touching his sleeve, " Rest and work on this tomorrow." "I can't, said the Creator, "I already have a model that can carry a 250 pound man down a flight of stairs and to safety from a burning building, and can feed a family of five on a meager paycheck." The guide circled the model of the Firefighter very slowly, "Can it think?"~

~ "You bet," said the Creator. It can tell you the elements of a hundred fires; and can recite procedures in their sleep that needed to care for a person until they reach the hospital. And all the while they have to keep their wits about themselves. This Firefighter also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with a scene f ull of pain and hurt, coaxing a child's mother into letting go of the child so that they can care for the child in need. And still they rarely get the recognition for a job well done from anybody, other than from fellow Firefighters."~

~ Finally, the guide bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Firefighter. "There's a leak", she pronounced. "Creator, it's a tear." "What's the tear for?" asked the guide. "It's a tear from bottled-up emotions for fallen comrades. A tear for commitment to that piece of cloth called the American Flag. It's a tear for all the pain and suffering they have encountered. And it's a tear for their commitment to caring for and saving lives of their fellow man!" "What a wonderf ul feature Creator, you're a genius" said the guide. The Creator looked somber and said "I didn't put it there."~

~Author Unknown~