AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 16
Monday, October 16, 2006
What happened to the dream of being a fire fighter?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are likely few men out there who did not, at some point from birth to around age 12, fantasize about becoming a fireman. It was the fodder of a young boy’s dream.
You got to ride on a bright red truck. You got to hit the siren and the flashing red light. There was a faithful Dalmatian seated right next to the driver.
The truck was covered with stuff. Axes. Hoses. The helmet and coat. That tall ladder that probably stretched beyond Jack’s beanstalk. And let’s not forget the brass pole back at the fire station that you got to slide down.
Most boys also, at one time during those years, had their own toy fire engine. I did. It had the ladder, the red flashing light, the siren. It even shot water. Santa was a big hero that year, as he was the year my son Zach got his fire engine.
No, I did not elbow him out of the way Christmas morning to play with it myself. That would have been quite unbecoming my status as an adult. I waited until he was out of the room – then I played with it.
Along the way boys lose that idealized dream. Sports, music and girls begin to take up brain space, as does reality. Firemen go to the scene of horrible accidents and see things one never forgets. Firemen run into burning buildings to fight fires and sometimes they don’t walk out. It takes a special person to do that job. No one gets rich fighting fires.
If you ever wanted to reach out locally and make a difference, opportunity is pounding on your door. In December we Sandy Springsteens will have our own fire department and there is a wish list – hell, I’d call it a need list – for the stations.
For instance, Station #2 at Johnson Ferry and Sandy Springs Circle needs kitchen supplies/service for 10 fire fighters. This includes plates, cups, silverware, mixing bowls, a blender and a commercial-quality coffee maker. Mattresses have been secured, but nightstands and lamps are needed.
Beyond the immediate needs, it would be a great thing for all of us to adopt these heroes on a regular basis. I’m sure they wouldn’t turn away homemade cookies, pies, cakes, etc. They probably also would be pretty happy if from time to time someone brought in 10 pounds of really good coffee. District 4 council member Ashley Jenkins is bulldogging this effort and can be reached at Ashley.Jenkins@sandyspringsga.org.
This is near and dear to my heart. What they give us every time they roll is beyond my ability to place a value on. We are forever in their debt.
Not only is this a good thing to do, we owe it.
