This past Labor Day weekend, as has been the custom for years, firefighters across America took their own valuable time that could have been devoted to their families, relaxing, cursing on a golf course or whatever else they might have chosen, to put on their uniforms, stand out during the hottest period of the day and patrol dangerous intersections while holding heavy boots for passersby to deposit donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Seeing their kindness, I went to a store and purchased several bottles of cold, noncarbonated, nonalcoholic beverages to take to all firefighters at any intersection where they may be gathered. Unfortunately, they were gone.
As I was wondering what to do next, I recalled National Geographic’s George W. Bush: the 9-11 Interview. I recalled the segment on President Bush’s visit to ground zero on Sept. 14, 2001. He told the interviewer, “I decided I was gonna shake every hand.” So I decided to visit as many fire stations as I could and do just that, and to give each of them something cold to drink.
My son turns 12 this month. Before he was 2, he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy (and autism, which turned out to be a “blessing” because he does not know what is happening to his body). Firefighters’ duties are dangerous enough, let alone the stress to the body of going from peace and relaxation to the polar opposite of what happens when the alarm sounds. For them to donate their time to stand out in the Georgia heat and walk across busy and dangerous intersections to help my son, it was the very least I could do.
On behalf of my son and our family, a sincere thanks to our local firefighters, and may their service be a catalyst for other acts of kindness and service.
Kudos to the firefighters for doing this, I gave them a handful of change I had in my cupholder!
Lee , include yourself in your kudos for the firefighters. You are, indeed, a gentleman.
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