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Never Never Land
Long, long ago, in a bedroom community far, far away, there was firehouse. The people that worked at this nondistinct, completely random firehouse were more like a family than a bunch of mismatched co-workers. They would cook and clean together, somehow managing to eat outstanding, creative lunches for the low cost of $2 a day. Not too many people outside of the station thought very highly of this motley bunch, but that just drew them closer.
The firehouse still stands today, though I can't tell you where, but times have changed the little firehouse. $2 will no longer treat you to a meal, it may get you a hot dog or maybe half a grilled-cheese though. $4 lunches are here! I guess that's just inflation, and not the inability to shop. Wait a minute,...if 2 loaves of bread are $5, 2 packs of cheese are $8, and 8 cans of soup are $6, that's $19 total. Unless only 5 people are eating lunch that day, which hasn't happened since Medic Bobby boycotted lunch several years ago, then where is all the money going? Anyway, back to the story. While the personnel and the attitudes have changed, the special, random, Firehouse "X", will always have a special place in my mind.
These pages depict some of the events and occasions that made Firehouse "X" a unique and exceptional place to work.
GOLF TOURNAMENT!!!
April 20th 2009 - There will be a fund-raiser golf tournament held at Meadows Farm's Golf Course on Monday April 20th. The event is being organized as we speak, ..well write, by Chuck Stahl. Chuck is Johnny Thomas' Brother-in-law, and he is staging this tournament to raise money for the "Relay for Life". The "Relay for Life" is a fund-raiser that we have participated in for the last 3 years, and raises dough for cancer research as well increasing the quality of life for cancer survivors.
A new page has been added to this site with information on the tournament!!!
Relay For Life - 2009
Once again, some family and friends of Johnny Thomas are participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The Relay is an overnight event where teams have at least one person walking on the track for the length of the event in honor of family and friends that have suffered and sometimes been taken by this disease. It is a very emotional ceremony and the phases of the walk are representative of the stages of the disease. In the beginning, you are fresh, invigorated, and healthy. As the night falls, you begin to tire, and things only seem to get worse. In the middle of the night, it seems as if you will never get through this and the only thing that you have is hope. And then the sun rises. This signifies the cancer going away and life coming back to normal.
Our team is one of many that participate in the Relay, and for a relatively youg team, our fundraising amounts have been very productive thanks to the many friends and family that have supported our efforts. If you are interested in supporting this year's effort, follow the link to the donation pages or register now for the golf tournament.
Donation Page - http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09SA?px=9581702&pg=personal&fr_id=13075
IAFF FALLEN FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL
2006 - SEPT 16th - A handful of members of my former department and myself were fortunate enough to travel to Colorado Springs for the 2006 IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial. This annual event honors fallen firefighters who have passed in the line-of-duty, or as a result of line-of-duty circumstances. Firefighters from all corners of the United States and Canada attended this somber, yet very impressive ceremony.
The ceremony was set under-way by a procession of hundreds of Harleys ridden by IAFF members, followed by dozens of fire apparatus from the Colorado Springs area. The stirring sound of the Pipes and Drums then pierced the afternoon, as they escorted the IAFF Honor Guard up to the Memorial site. The Honor Guard consisted of almost 500 members.
After a chilling rendition of Amazing Grace, and a few speaches, the names added to the wall were read. After each name was called, a bell was rung, and a flag was presented to the family of the fallen. We had the unfortunate honor to hear Johnny's name being read. When all the names were read, A bell tolled the Last Alarm for all of those honored, and Taps was played by an unseen group of buglers.
After the audience was addressed by General President Harold Schaitberger, the Honor Guard was picked up once again by the Pipes & Drum Corp, and escorted to a field to the rear of the Memorial site. It was an awe-inspiring ceremony that would have been much more rewarding to witness, if it weren't for the inclusion of our friend Johnny.