Where were you when the world stopped turning...

on that September day...

Words that rang out from an Alan Jackson song for months after the tragic event at Ground Zero.  Even today, ten years later, I can sing along like it was still a number one hit.

Not only is it the title to the song, it is the question asked by everyone- Where were you? Do you remember?- I know exactly where I was, who told me and what happened the rest of the day. I was at work, at the daycare center, a parent was dropping their child off and told us about it.  We turned the news on in one room, and put all of the kiddos in another room in front of another tv, with Barney or a movie or probably both, repeatedly.  The adults alternated checking on the kiddos - so we could all pretty much be glued to the TV. Oh, and we took turns fielding phone calls... all the parents to all those children - they were calling to check on us, check on the kiddos and some even wanted to talk to their children.  Even though the kiddos had no idea what was going on.

My kiddos were 18 months at the time, so all they know of the event is what they have seen on news and in books.  We tried to shield them from it until they were a bit older, but on the 5th anniversary of the event, we did explain things.  There was just no way around it.. it was everywhere.  Plus, with Roger being so involved in the fire department - it's just our way of life.  Tragic events happen, my kiddos know that, they live that, and we are all ok with the lifestyle that comes with being part of the fire fighter/first responder family.

Which, leads me into my next thought on the tenth anniversary of 9/11.  The firefighters, policemen and other first responders that showed up that day... Much like this current event, they were not invited that day either.  They did what they were supposed to do that day - they just showed up.  There have been rumors flying about them not being invited to the Memorial Ceremony, and instead of taking facebook for gospel like so many do, I searched a bit on my on.  Sure enough, here is the headline I found:

9/11 First Responders Not Invited To 10th Anniversary Ceremony At Ground Zero

Found it on NewYork/CBSLocal website.  The article goes on to list security & space as reason that they are not invited. My first thoughts... wrong!  They should just *show up* invitation or not.  Not only are they a big part of the reason that some of the survivors made it out of that alive, but they also lost family in the destruction   They lost part of their brotherhood - 15 men from one single shift at one single station!  And the rest on that shift can't attend the memorial ceremony?? 

After some thought and discussion (mostly ranting) about the lack of invitation, I had another thought...

Maybe, just maybe, they weren't invited because if something was to happen (I mean, the levels were all elevated for that day) and the first responders were all in the middle of it, then what would happen?  Who would come to the rescue? I know there are still good people out there who would help, but most turn the other way and run...  the firemen, policemen and other first responders needed to be out of the area for that day, so they were available in case of emergency.

(this post was started before the anniversary, but I didn't finish up until afterwards)

Where we were - 10 years later

Like many other places, our city had several different memorial services, all honoring the victims of 9/11.  Roger being an active firefighter, we chose to go to the service that was for the firefighters.  There was a march down Capital Avenue to the State Capital and then a memorial on the Capital Grounds.

We dropped Roger and a few other FF's off at the meeting place and then we headed up to get a place closer to the Capital.  I have to say, I was very disappointed in the turnout for this event.  We watched the march, then followed the rest of the way up to the steps and listened to a few well known people here in Little Rock.  

There was also a traveling memorial that was actually pieces from Ground Zero.  

Med Flight training

Monday was a long day for me and I was pretty tired.  Dinner was in the in the crock pot all day and I was ready to eat and hit the bed.  Roger had plans to go to the fire station and the kiddos were discussing going with him.  Once dinner mess was all clean, the tones went off to let the guys know about training... Med Flight training... suddenly I felt better and we all got ready to head to the fire station.  I had a bit of trouble adjusting to the lighting, but here are a few pictures of the copter:

Coming in...

C130's in the shot

Back of the copter with C130's

Propeller close up

Inside the copter

Sam in the night goggles

Riley in the night vision goggles

Down the end of the propeller

Time to lift-off

5:51 am

on the day off…

Yes folks, that is what time the Fire Department pager went off (FOR THE FIRST TIME) this morning. For a medical call.  Roger had been restless most of the night and took a Benadryl sometime during the night to clear up his sinus issues.  He turned the pager off and tried to go back to sleep. (Don’t freak out- someone did answer the page and there were people on the call - remember almost everyone is off today!).

That wasn’t enough… 6:12 they get called out for a structure fire. Yeah, he gets up for that one and heads out the door.  It turns out it is a small fire and he is not gone long.

Upon his return home, we were discussing the fact that we figured they would be busy today - I mean it is the pyromaniac's holiday and we live in the county where it is still legal to shoot fireworks. Just didn’t think it would start so early.  He takes a shower, and falls back to sleep on the couch.  As I finish up the first paragraph on this post- there it goes again!  8:30 am and already three fire calls… it’s going to be a LONG day.  This one is also a medical and since he is up, Roger heads out to this one.

I wasn’t really feeling the topic ideas sent by UBC today, so conveniently, something I am passionate about presents itself to me! The fire department!

Roger and I met at the volunteer department.  We were both active as older teens, I took some time away for a few years, then as a young childless married couple, with him being a paid FF also, our world completely revolved around the department.  Once the kiddos were born, we both took some time away from there- Roger worked himself back into it pretty quickly, but being sick and having two little ones, there wasn’t much I could do. 

The opportunity for a Ladies Auxiliary presented itself to a few of us, so we took the idea and ran with it.  The RAVFDLA was born in 2005.  It has had it’s peeks and valley times over the years and is currently in a valley time.   My goal for this fall is to help bring it back to a peak and be there and be supportive for those FF who need us.  Please pray that we can get back on our feet and work towards bettering our group and the department.

*This can be a heated issue in our area so I figure it best to keep my true deep feelings a little suppressed when it comes to publicly discussing the department.

I will be sure to check back tomorrow and let you all know what our total fire calls of the day ended up being!

Check this out!!!

Best Firefighting Blogs

firesciencedegree.org

I was surprised to get the email and excited at the same time... I love the connection with other FF blogs!  
Now, if I can just find someone to help me learn how to redecorate my blog back to my FF theme things would be great!

Friday at the Fire Station...

Today something that has been in the works for 2+ years came to be...

Our new sign was installed!!

It was quite a process...we had to take the old sign down and get it out of the way:

in the process, they broke a saw blade:

took plenty of them, but they got it down...

There was just blankness while we waited for the new sign to show...

It's HEeeeeeeReeee...

And after much work and a little bit of nervousness- it is up:

We would like to thank Phil for the awesome work on the sign...

and once again...here is the finished product:

Not so normal after all...

As we sat outside doing school this  morning, I was thinking about how boring our day was going to be and that I didn't think that I would even blog about it....

Well, I was WAY WRONG!!!  We worked outside this morning on their school work, and then stopped about 1pm for lunch & a break.  While we were on that break, the fire department got called out to assist Camp Robinson on a woods fire (that has been burning on and off since last Tuesday).  My father in law called me and told me they were thinking about evacuating his street and I needed to go get Roger's Gramma.  Roger had taken the van to work, so we went and picked her up in the jeep, dropped them back off at the house then went to get my nephew from school and took him to the house with Gramma and the twins and then I headed out to the fire station.  Roger took a couple of hours emergency leave from work & I met him down there with clothes to change into and his radio.  He sent me to his parents house to help out there.  I ended up helping with hoses and on the back of the four wheeler delivering water to the firefighters & letting folks on the road know that the fire was close.

Along with Runyan Acres Fire Department, also out helping were North Pulaski, Sylvan Hills/Sherwood/Gravel Ridge, North Little Rock Air Force Base- tons of sherriff's - forestry- they were all out here... It was a CRAZY out here...

Roger had to go back to work, once everyone was cleared from the fire, we hung out at the station for a while - the smoke was still pretty thick.  I thought for sure that they would be called back on it.  I went to get the kiddos from Gramma's house and ended up staying for dinner...

When we left there, we could see flames, we also drove around to the other area that was being covered/watched by the firefighters and there was still fire there.  I came on home and put everything back on the chargers... in case we go back out again tonight...I'm hoping that doesn't happen.