As most of you know, we have a rich American fire service
history. Each and every fire department (about 35,000 of them) have their own
story to tell whether they’ve been organized for 50 years or 150 years. I came
upon one recently where they had documented their history over the past 100
years very well. The Raleigh (NC) Fire Department celebrated their 100th
anniversary on Saturday November 17, 2012 in spectacular fashion. Members were
in their Class A uniforms, others in black tie and tux and women in gowns. I
was honored and humbled to be invited to this affair by virtue of the work I do
for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).
It was a small affair. Only 600 people showed up! This
certainly was one of the largest fire service dinners I had ever attended. I
think it was second to the retirement party of an old friend and college
classmate of mine, John J. O’Rourke who upon retiring as Chief of Department of
the FDNY, there were over 800 at the party. Back to Raleigh. The cocktail hour
was in the pre-function outer lobby of the main ballroom of the North Carolina
Convention Center. A great time to mingle and catch up with folks while absorbing
adult beverages and munchies and adjusting attitudes. The NFFF had a two-fold secret
mission here. The RFD Chief John T. McGrath was going to be personally
recognized for the work he’d been doing for the NFFF for over 10 years, with
the Taking Care of Our Own program as
well as working as the Incident Commander at the last 10 Memorial Weekends in
Emmitsburg. (I’ve had the honor to work side by side with John each year as his
Chief of Operations for those 10 weekends.) Secondly, the RFD truly tightened
their safety programs on the heels of an apparatus accident two years ago, so
the Foundation felt it prudent to give them a Departmental Award revolving
around the 16 Life Safety Initiatives and the Everyone Goes Home
program. (Haven’t heard of the EGH program? 1-Tell the GEICO man you need to
get out from under the rock and then; 2) go to www.Everyongoeshome.com.) The first thing we did was to approach, rush (almost
tackle) Chief McGrath as a group. He was overwhelmed with surprise that we were
there but still hadn’t known why, other than the fact that the RFD was 100
years old. So, after the hugging, handshaking, adult beverage absorbing and all
that good brotherhood stuff, we headed in to the main ballroom. Alas, a horse-drawn
steam engine on one side of the stage and a hand-drawn hose cart on the other.
Large oversized photos of the RFD from 1912 through 2012 on easels and a
continuous power point show on a large screen with photos of the department and
its members for the past 100 years. Speeches were kept to a minimum, the
committee took a bow and the fire department historian and museum curator gave
us a quick thumbnail of the Raleigh Fire Department’s 100 years. Then it was
our turn. Chief Ron Siarnicki, Executive Director of the NFFF was called to the
stage to present John with a Departmental EGH award. Then the rest of us then rushed
the stage as they handed him a replica of the Fallen Firefighter’s Monument to
honor him for his service to the Foundation and the fire service at large,
particularly the families and departments of the fallen. It was a great moment
for all. John was a bit emotional and humbled at the same time. (John is one of
those guys who gives until it hurts and then gives more all without taking a
bow, credit or photo opportunities. He’s a credit to his fire department, his
family and the fire service. Hey, there are not many folks I’d fly down south
for one day and back for, but he’s certainly one of them! Well deserved honors
Chief!)
As the main ceremonies wound down, things were topped off
by an outstanding dinner followed by a delectable dessert bar. The DJ kicked it
up and the RFD guys and gals with their partners got busy on the dance floor.
All in all, a great night.
OK Ron, why are you telling us all of this? I tell you
this because if someone in your department is already doing this, keep it going
and support them. If no one is doing it, start doing it. Collect photos, take
new ones and preserve the past. A couple of million firefighters have gone
before us and set the stage for our current successes. Whether they served as
volunteers 200 years ago or retired as a career guy last week, they have all
contributed to where we are today.
Benjamin Franklin was proud of what he saw on Saturday
night in Raleigh, North Carolina. In fact I may have spotted him sitting atop
the steamer in the ballroom. Too many adult beverages? Perhaps. But I think his
spirit mingled within the ballroom that night and he was proud that one fire
department remembered to embrace our history and not erase our history.
Congrats Raleigh FD on a job well done.
Be safe,
Ronnie K
