Heart Awarness Month 2015

      This month I want to bring attention to Heart Awareness.  February every year is deemed Heart Awareness Month by the American Heart Association and more now than ever, Heart disease is an major epidemic for firefighters.

 

     The U. S. Fire Administration (USFA) has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis for 36 years.  In this study 47.2% of all firefighters deaths were from heart attack, 28.2% were from Trauma, 6.4% were from Asphyxiation, 5.7% were deemed other and 4.9% were Cerebrovascular Accident.  It is time that we as firefighters step up our game and take care of ourselves, look out for another. It is time to have workout programs that are mandatory for all firefighters on the Job.  If every firefighter did some type of cardio workout everyday or even every other day I feel that we all could cut these deaths down. I know it’s not going to happen overnight but overall within the next 10 years we could possibly cut heart attacks in half.

     I know that I may not the healthiest eater or the big gym buff but I’m trying very hard to set myself in the right direction.  It’s time for me to step up my game and I challenge each and every one of my Firefighter, Police friends and family members to do the same.

 

 

 So I am asking everyone this month to remember to wear RED and think of your Heart! 

Boston LODD

It always hits home when a Firefighter dies in the Line of Duty. Some people may ask why? Well, A Firefighter or Police Officer never knows when that last call of duty will be. We've always picked ourselves up, brushed off the dust and mo...ved on. For TWO BRAVE Boston Firefighters, they will never put those boots on again. One of them leaves behind 3 small children all under the age of 10. I don't ever want to imagine the grief the family will have to bear over the next few days. Every LODD is sad and so humbling. As a Firefighter the only thing we can really do is training.. Train everyday because our lives depend on it. God Speed Brothers.

 

 

 

It Ain't The Whiskey

Whether or not you win this thing, you’ve got to decide how you’re gonna walk out of here when it’s all said and done, because the game is going to go on and there’s only one rule you’re going to need to know about; there are no second chances. There’s only this moment and the next moment. Every one of those moments is a test that you get to take one time and ONLY one time. So, if you see an opening, tear into it. If you get a shot at victory, make damn sure you take it. Seize that moment. That moment is a crossroads where everything you want will collide with everything standing in your way. You’ve got momentum at your back. Fear and doubt are thundering like freight-train straight at you and all you’ve got, the only difference between making history and being history, the only thing, the only thing you can count on at any given moment is you. It’s you versus them, you versus no, you versus can’t, you versus next year, last year, statistics, excuses. It’s you versus history, you versus the odds. It’s you versus second place.

Whether or not you win this thing, you’ve got to decide how you’re gonna walk out of here when it’s all said and done, because the game is going to go on and there’s only one rule you’re going to need to know about; there are no second chances. There’s only this moment and the next moment. Every one of those moments is a test that you get to take one time and ONLY one time. So, if you see an opening, tear into it. If you get a shot at victory, make damn sure you take it. Seize that moment. That moment is a crossroads where everything you want will collide with everything standing in your way. You’ve got momentum at your back. Fear and doubt are thundering like freight-train straight at you and all you’ve got, the only difference between making history and being history, the only thing, the only thing you can count on at any given moment is you. It’s you versus them, you versus no, you versus can’t, you versus next year, last year, statistics, excuses. It’s you versus history, you versus the odds. It’s you versus second place.

 

The clock is ticking.

 

Let’s see what you got.

 

 

Some Random Pictures

Some pictures I took back on Memorial Day Weekend. Had the best time spending the day with my Dad.

Going to try and get down to DC and take some pictures at night of the Christmas Tree & some other stuff.

My Dad & I

Vietnam Nurses

My Dad

The Washington Monument

Korean Memorial

Korean Memorial

World War 2 Memorial

Korean Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

 

Yours Truly !

BURN

BURN - Official Theatrical Trailer (2012) from BURN on Vimeo.

Got to see this about a month ago in Silver Spring and now it's playing in DC...   Gotta see this again...   Taking my Dad to see it.....

Great Documentary on the Detroit Fire Department

Firefighter Within!!!!

Never give up.

Never give in.

Fight 'til you lose or fight 'til you win.

Never let up.

Never let down.

Never let the frighten see you frown.

Wield your weapons.

Conquer your fears.

Work 'til your sweat replaces their tears.

Learn from your losses.

Savor your wins.

Prepare for the next one.

And battle again.

THAT IS THE FIREFIGHTER WITHIN!! 

 

 

Supreme Sacrifice

This is what the Brotherhood is all about right here!!

 

 

 

 

 

On the road with Steve Hartman - CBS Evening News

 

 

These Firefighters in  a Lansing, Michigan firehouse have made welcome a mentally-handicapped man - for almost 60 years!!!  

 

God Bless ALL!! 

 

 

BROTHERHOOD RUNS DEEP IN OUR VEINS. 

A True Hero!!!

Well it’s been quite some time since the last time I’ve written a blog but wanted to share this....

Yesterday I attended the funeral for Adrian Morris, A Police Officer from the Prince Georges County Police Department who was killed in the Line of duty on August 20^Th 2012.   He was chasing a suspect Southbound on interstate 95 and lost control of his cruiser.  He was ejected in the crash when the vehicle he was driving overturned and hit a guardrail just south of Powder Mill Rd.   

I have to say that this funeral is one that will leave a lasting impression on me for a very long time. To see those Police Officers, Honor and mourn him in that way was truly humbling.  The Police Chief said, "Adrian made a lasting impression on his co-workers and the community, The Prince George's County Police Department was a better department because of Adrian and His loss leaves a tremendous void."

There were so many things yesterday that were just amazing to me.  That sound of those Motorcycle Police Officers escorting the family to the church and then to cemetery. The sound of Bagpipes echoing through the cemetery. The Honor Guard playing Taps. The 21 Gun Salute and the Fly Over of the Police Helicopters from every Agency in the area and to see those Police Officers from Other states and every agency in Maryland was simply impressive. I’m still lost for words….   The only thing that comes to mind is…. AMAZING, simply AMAZING!!  

When I say I had cold chills running down my spine, that doesn’t even begin to explain exactly what I was feeling.  It was TRUE Heroes Funeral.  Ive been in the Fire Department for over 20 years and have been to several funerals Police and Fire but this one tops them all!

The entire day yesterday I kept thinking to myself about one verse in the bible - John 15:13 -

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” 

And that is exactly what Adrian did that day!!!!


It was true Honor to attend yesterday and I can honestly say that the brotherhood that Police Officers and Firefighters share is one very strong bond.  Yes we may joke and play around about our jobs but when it comes down to it..  We stand beside each other arm and arm for one another, no matter what it is for!

 

R.I.P Peace Brother - Your fellow Officers have the watch from here!