the 169th day of the year, with 196 remaining in 2007
"Somehow, somewhere, with someone .... make a difference .... TODAY!"
You hear that first alarm - a whistle or bell;
you are racing along streets, through traffic;
search the premises for injured or trapped people;
a bond that is only experienced and known among firefighters;
I Know My Hero -
Do You Know Yours?
Capt. Louis Mulkey
Engineer Mark Kelsey
Capt. Mike Benke
Engineer Bradford 'Brad' Baity
Firefighter Brandon Thompson
Assistant Engineer Michael French
Capt. William 'Billy' Hutchinson AND NEVER FORGET!
Bill Allen -- Atlanta, Georgia
P.S. I encourage everyone to watch this Slide show. You'll see how intense this fire really was, as they often are ..... and you will readily understand the words spoken by the retired marine !!!!
So, at 71 years young now, as a former volunteer firefighter in Elderton, Penna. (about 70 miles north-northeast of Pittsburgh) in the early 1970's, I am privileged to remember and honor these fallen heroes. These men I knew, even though we never met face to face, for there is a bond between firefighters that I seriously do not believe exist anywhere else in life (except between a mother and her children). I thank you for visiting The Wall Of Honor for the Charleston Firefighters. Yes, it is one of my passions .... to remember and honor ALL those who continue to serve, or have served, to defend and protect America and all of our communities across our beautiful country. Because of each of them we live in "the land of the free and the home of the brave". May God continue to bless America, those who serve and each of us that we shall always know and enjoy such freedom. Please visit my Blogs again. I will continue to provide updates, and special events, to remember and pay tribute to those who serve our country and communities. Together we can express our gratitude, and they will always know we care and noticed what they gave. As skills permit (wow, that's a huge learning curve for a 71 year old), and funds become available these Blogs will move to The Wall Of Honor.com website when it is functioning as we envision .... so there will be a permanent record of this part of our history, and those who contributed. You are invited to 'post' a thank you, a short poem or prayer to anyone you know, or just simply everyone, who is serving our country. Perhaps just a simple, quiet visit from time to time to reflect and pay tribute to those who keep us safe daily. They will know somehow! With Jack's and Kevin's help, they will all be saved and included on The Wall Of Honor.com.
I have one final request, have a wonderful day, weekend, and a great week ahead. I hope someone does something extraordinarily nice for you. Until next time ..... your friend, Bill Allen- a native of Atlanta (and a Grady baby as they say, at the time of Atlanta's worst winter storm --- January 1936).
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Objective:
(as stated on the website)
THE WALL OF HONOR.com - a dedicated Internet Community for friends and family members of the individuals that have served during and against the acts of World Wide terrorism.
It is also designed to serve as an eternal flame of gratitude, remembrance, reflection, history and most importantly for the many that have given ALL!
What does this mean? We, like every American and most of the world, were shocked and appalled by the events on that beautiful morning of September 11, 2001 -- known as 9-1-1. We collectively have over fifty five years of service and associations with the military branches, first responders and criminal justice system: (Jack - 25 years in the Air Force, including ten years as Air Police, ten years in a state Criminal Justice Dept.; Kevin - ten years+ as a volunteer firefighter, witnessed the collapse of the first tower as he led his units to the nightmarish scene to become known as Ground Zero, suffered the loss of over forty friends, and spent 2-1/2 weeks on location at what became a heartbreaking rescue and recovery effort; Bill - seven years Georgia Army National Guard - almost dispatched to Cuba in the 1960s, 2-1/2 years Elderton, Penna Volunteer Fire Dept., 1-1/2 years in prison ministry; PLUS our many years of public support to the organizations, individuals and their families who serve to defend and protect our nation and all of our communities everyday. We have had an eye ball, on the ground, up close experience at the scenes - the sights, sounds, smell, horror, torn and broken bodies, pain, destruction, people in desperate need .... and upon reflection, the dangers and risks our military and first responders face everyday, but always report for duty and carry it out devotedly. But TWOH is not about us, it's about those who have carried 'the banners' and continue to carry them daily for our country and communities. However, it is one of our great passions --- (1) we have seen first hand, (2) we understand the dangers and risks, (3) it is an important part of our history, (4) a part that should be told and recorded without bias or political influences, (5) a part that any citizen can freely contribute to, (6) accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime, (7) a medium where any family member, friend or the general public can express their heartfelt gratitude to those who have chosen to serve, (8) that is permanent - an eternal flame! (9) that it's a Memorial on the World-Wide Internet, (10) one day, a 100-acres+ Memorial Park that you can visit and walk through --- remembering those who serve --- "the land of the free and the home of the brave!"'. NOTE: one programmer told me it couldn't be done --- Bill, it's too large, complex. I don't understand 'can't, it's not acceptable! I wasn't taught nor do I believe that way. We went to the moon ... in less than ten years, returning many times. Or maybe it's the firefighter in me. And I feel the same about a physical 100-acre site. Also, we must win and defeat terrorism world-wide--- even in Iraq. Isn't that a better choice for America -- than in our own neighborhoods and homes. Please visit the old firefighter again!
