Twas the night before Christmas in a far distant land
Not a creature was stirring not even the sand
The soldiers were all nestled upon the floor
Just settling down after another long day of war
When up in the sky, there rose such a clatter
The sirens rang out and everyone rose to see what was the matter
The guns started blasting, the bombs started booming
Everyone screaming instructions on who they were pursuing
It was the insurgents again, they did not care whom they killed
Women, men and children left dead in the field
Our soldiers they weep our soldiers they die
But Americans here have not a tear in their eye
For you see our government, our president, and our states
Think that having God in our society is just a waste
We take for granted every day
The things our forefathers gave us along the way
No more Christmas there will be
For our society has taken away Christ from us all
So now no man shall ever be truly free.
Our soldiers have died for all the freedoms that you have to share
Just as God gave his only son so your soul would be spared
So remember the reason for the season
And let no man take Christ away from you this holiday season
As I leave you now this starry night
Merry Christmas to all and May god bless you all this night

Darren Hager United States Navy 1986-1996

Love for me

It was just another day at the station but something made Steve feel a little different. He just had a strange and uneasy feeling deep down inside. Just then the alarm sounded, Code 90 house and fire is visible from the road. The trucks roll out in a flash with the lights and sirens blaring. Steve put on his turnout gear as they headed to the scene. Upon arrival, people were gathered outside and begin to yell she is still inside. Steve and his crew went straight in looking for the home owner in all the smoke and flames. As he felt his way through the thick smoke and hot red flames, he spots a figure lying on the floor. Steve grabs her up in his arms and races out of the house as the rest of the crew tries to contain the flames. Once outside he starts to try and revive the young lady. Strong deep breaths and chest compressions finally bring the young lady back to life. She is in a panic as they try to control her. Paramedics take her to the local hospital where she remains for a few days for observation. Meanwhile Steve and his crew are back doing what they love to do, fighting fires. A few weeks went by and the young lady from the house fire stops by the station to thank the man who saved her life. As she walks into the fire house, a somber feeling comes over her. She approaches a firefighter working on his gear, Excuse me sir, the young lady says. Where can I find a firefighter named Steve who pulled me from a house fire a few weeks ago, the hospital said this was his station. The firefighter looks up with watery eyes and says, Ma'am Steve was killed in a house fire last Thursday while trying to save a little boy from certain death. As he reached the front door with the little boy, the house exploded sending Steve into the air. He saved the boy but with the blast it busted him up inside so bad that he could not recover. The young girl with tears streaming down her face could not believe what had happened. She never even got to tell him her name. But that is the way it always goes, they do a job and then they are gone onto the next call. Susan was her name, 28 years of age, with long blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. As she leaves the station, she goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her hero. As she approaches the grave a calm feeling comes over her with a soft gentle breeze touching her hair softly. Susan feels his presence upon her shoulders along with a soft touch of her face; she smiles as a tear runs slowly down her cheek. My hero to me you will always remain in my heart till the day I die. As the years go past, Susan visited Steve's grave every weekend and would sit and talk for hours. For as you see, Steve was really apart of Susan's life before the fire but she never knew until after that terrible day. Steve was her brother that she never knew. Susan and Steve were separated at birth due to the mother gave them up for adoption but Steve had found her only three months earlier but had not had the chance to meet with her to explain what happened when they were little. So when the call went out for a code 90 house and he knew the address was his sisters, he had to respond in a hurry. The fire house was going through his belongings and ran across her name and address along with the paperwork of the adoption. The chief sent all of Steve's belongings to Susan after her visit to the station. Life has many meanings but the greatest one of all is love. You can forget things and events but love will always remain deep inside you until the end.....

Fireman really care

Its 3 am and he is sleeping soundly in the bed
The pager goes off and thoughts run through his head
The pager keeps repeating as he grabs his clothes in his hand
The siren is screaming and can be heard throughout the land
Code 90 house with people trapped inside
His heart goes into his throat; his eyes are now opened wide
For he remembers the last time he had a call like this one
Because every member of that house had died
Rushing to the scene, flames and smoke fill the air
People standing around shouting
You need to hurry and do something or do you even care
He hurries with his air pack, mask strapped on and hose in hand
He hits the door strongly; he is ready to take a stand
One child, two child, three child, four
He carries them out till there is no more
He treats the children with oxygen, with love and with care
He is relieved and feels very strongly that God had answered his prayer
Then in that moment one of the children screams out
We are all here but my mommy and daddy, they did not make it out
He rushes back in without a moment to spare; he keeps hearing the words spoken earlier
You must hurry and do something or do you even care
As the smoke gets stronger and the flames begin to hover
He steps out through the doorway
First with the father then with the mother
On this early morning he remembered all of his training
But after it was over his eyes looked like they were raining
No one ever thinks of all the heartache, all the pain, or the despair
That a fireman goes through or do they really care
To a fireman it's not about the lights and sirens or even the cool gear
It's doing a job to save someone's life even when he himself is in fear
People say firemen are crazy, hotshots, cocky and brass
But when they need help, they call us to come quickly, please come really fast
So remember when you see the lights please move over and don't waste any time
For the life they may be saving may be your families or it may even be mine

September 11th,2001 is a day that we will never forget. Five years ago, we lost almost 4000 Americian lives to a violent terrorist attack. When it first happened people were in dismay with thoughts of anger,sorrow,guilt,and frustration. People flew their flags proudly displaying ribbons, pictures and signs saying we will never forget. Well months after 9-11, we slowly started seeing the flags, ribbons and signs coming down. have we forgotten what happened to America on that day? Have we went back to our normal routine and back to yelling at each other because we had a bad day at work, stood in line too long to get our groceries or gas, football,baseball, or favorite driver did not win that day. Everyone says they want to remember 9-11 but where is your flag,where is your patriotism, where is your kindness and helpfulness towards your fellow man. You watch the news and all you see is killings, shootings, robberies, and all the problems with overpopulated schools. It back to big business making record profits while putting the common man in the poor house. With all the money that the gas companies are making, they should give a little back to their country. All the people that died on 9-11 gave the ultiment sacrifice and they never ask for anything in return.All the firefighters, police officers, port authority officers, medics, and anyone that risk their own lives just to save a few so they could live another day. People will jump on any bandwagon that comes along to be with the " in group " but when that wagon has passed on, they go back to sitting on the couch with their remote.I feel that September 11th should be a National holiday to celebrate the people that gave all and so that we may never forget what they gave. Every man, woman, and child that died on that day should be honored. If you think that I have forgotten, then you are sadly mistaken. I think of  September 11th, 2001 everyday that I get up and before I go to sleep. You only have to look at what I drive to see what I mean. Every person who died that day will always live in the hearts of their family members but they should also live with us. I served my country proudly for fifteen years defending my country and would have given my life to save another. I also serve my community as a firefighter and would never think twice about trying to save someone who is in need. Every American has a heart but sometimes it is easier to turn your head and close your eyes and do nothing than it does to step foward and do the right thing or stand up for what is right. Just please remember to take a moment out of your busy day and say a prayer for the friends and family of all the victim of  9-11and our military men and women every day. Show on September 11th that America has not forgotten.

                                   September 11th 2001

                            WE WILL NEVER FORGET

What a friend means to me

What a friend means to me is someone who is always there for you. Someone who will listen to all your rambeling and not putting their 2 cents in. Someone to be there when you are in trouble or in need. Someone who will always laugh at your jokes even when they are not funny. Someone to pick you up off the floor after a few too many drinks. Someone to make you laugh when you are feeling down. Someone who will tell you the truth even if it means hurting your feelings. Someone who will keep your secrets unless it will truely hurt someone. Most of all, someone who will just be a friend. Let me know if you are truely my friend.

Firefighters are human too.....We answer the call, no matter what time day or night. We run into the burning house not knowing what we will find on the other side. We look for your family, your pets and try to save all of your memories. We look into your faces seeing the pain the sorrow the helplessness of what has just happened. We strive to put the flames out as quick as possible to save all you have. We pull the bodies out no matter what the age, race, or religion but cannot show the emotions that haunt us every day so we can be strong for the ones around us. The car wrecks, the fires take its toll day after day, for some of those that are lost are friends, family and loved ones. At the end of the day we go home and reflect on what has happened. Some of you call us heros or the bravest of the brave, risking everything but not for glory or fame but for the knowing that maybe the next call you go on can make a difference in someones life. It is not a glamor job but it does have great rewards.People look at what we do and think how cool is that or get mad because we are running lights and sirens passing people on the roads going fast wearing the gear but for us its a passion to save someones life, home, and family. We keep all the guilt, sorrow, and pain of not saving someone locked up deep inside, never letting our true emotions surface for we are your last hope to save it all. But remember one thing the next time you see a firefighter going to a call, please give them room for you never know, they may be going to help your friends, family, or loved ones. Above all else remember one thing..........Fighters are human too