A Dedication To You! “Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. They were not thinking of getting killed when they went where death lurked. They went there to put the fire out, and got killed. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires.” -- Chief Edward F. Croker, FDNY, speaking upon the death of a deputy chief and four firefighters in February of 1908 I wanted to personally write the words that would honor each of the Tired Angels communities. When I started working on the content for the firefighters section I closed my eyes and instantly I was overwhelmed by the visions of firefighters carrying people to safety on 911. Images and pictures of fallen firefighters played before my eyes like a morbid slide show, most of them strangers to me just names on my tribute but from within these images a bright smiling face emerged my almost 6-year-old nephew’s. You see Nathan a very fortunate little boy who could have chosen any place to have his fourth birthday party picked a fire station, no characters just an old fire station surrounded by 15 of his little friends and a handful of firefighters. When I asked him why he chose a fire station he replied: because they are always there when you need them, they help people, they put out fires, have cool fire trucks and they love making noise just like me. That birthday party brings a smile to my face every time I think about it. The kids had a blast climbing all over the trucks, putting out a make-believe fire and coming home to a fire truck cake. Sharing these memories with you is the best way I can think of to show my respect and gratitude. Next time you are mourning a fallen brother or just having a bad day think of all the little Nathans out there who think of you as their role model.