FReeper Canteen~Tribute To Firefighters~August 3, 2006

The Canteen Pays Tribute To

The badge of a fireman is the Maltese Cross. This Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. Its story is hundreds of years old.

The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the fireman who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you. The Maltese Cross is a fireman's badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage - a ladder rung away from death.

Today, fire and rescue remains a mix of paid, call, and volunteer responders. While urban areas such as New York, NY and Boston, MA are typically served by large, well-coordinated paid responders, there is no requirement demanding either paid, call, or career firefighters and many departments are so-called "mixed" departments - full time responders handle the day-to-day needs of a department and work with either call or volunteer responders when more manpower is needed. Other departments are completely "call" or volunteer, depending on local tradition, needs, and, most importantly, financial ability.

In popular literature, firefighters are usually depicted with Dalmatian dogs. This breed originated in southern Europe to assist with herding livestock and run along with horses, and in the days of horse-drawn fire vehicles, the horses were usually released on arrival at the fire and the Dalmatians would lead the horses to a safe place to wait until the fire was out. Dalmatians also filled the role of protecting the horses' feet from other dogs as equipment was being transported to the fire scene. In reality, most fire dogs were mutts pulled from the street.

Bucket Carriage used by Continental Bucket Co.No.1, of Jamaica, Long Island NY. Iron stanchion in center of machine bears metal plate, “Jamaica 1787-1907”. Four-wheeled carriage equipped to carry 50 buckets to use in places where there were no hydrants.

Glass Fire Grenades ranging from ½ pint to 2 quarts in size, filled with water or saltwater. These provided an effective means of quelling a small fire from 1868 to 1903. In later years they were filled with carbon tetrachloride and used to the mid 1960’s.

Click Here to see some of Austin's finest at work!

Now there's a handsome firefighting family!

“If Prometheus was worthy of the wrath of heaven for kindling the first fire upon earth, how ought all the gods honor the men who make it their professional business to put it out?” -- John Godfrey Saxe, (American journalist, poet, and lecturer) circa 1850

Click here to see some of Ft. Worths Finest in action!

The Fire Bike was a motorcycle built by Orange County Choppers on the American reality television show American Chopper. It was put together by everyone at the OCC, the project holding more emotional weight with its ties to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Click here for more information

10/13/2005 - SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq -- Firefighters assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron render a final salute in memory of Sgt. Brian E. Dunlap, an active firefighter and a member of U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, who was killed in action Sept. 24 in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Randy Mitchell)
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The Firefighters Memorial Fountain at dusk. The memorial, at 31st Street and Broadway in Kansas City, was created to honor those killed in the line of duty.

Keeping up the fight - Phoenix firefighters battle a three-alarm fire at Bowen Poles in northwest Phoenix (Pinnacle Peak and I-17) Feb. 4. No one was injured in the fire.

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RAPID RESPONSE
Years ago, when I was working on a small town ambulance, it was not uncommon for my wife and me to stop at the local grocer to buy food for dinner after a call. I had gone in to get a head of lettuce and some apples. Unknown to me the floor was wet from the newly installed produce sprayers. Down I went, hitting my head hard. When I came to, the manager of the store was sitting beside me telling me not to move, that he had called 911. At the same time my pager went off and he looked at me and asked, “What was that? I said "My pager, I am 911." He looked at me, shocked " Boy, you guys are fast!"

More jokes here...

Fireman History Quiz

A heartfelt thank you from the Canteen to all Firefighters & your families for your service & sacrifice!

To: AZamericonnie

Wow, amazing job on this!!
Thanks firefighters!

21 posted on 08/02/2006 6:21:37 PM PDT by herewego (Got .45?)

Evening Sandy! *Hugs*

22 posted on 08/02/2006 6:22:09 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (Support the Troops...they support us!)

To: 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; A Ruckus of Dogs; acad1228; AirForceMom; ..

The Fireman's Prayer

When duty call's me, oh Lord,
Wherever Flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever Be its age.

Help me embrace a little child
Before it is too late
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert,
and oh Lord, guide my every move,
for life is so precious,
please don't let us loose.

I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me
To guard my every neighbor
And protect their property

And if according to thy will,
That I must give my life,
Then with thy protecting hand my Lord,
I pray thee, protect my children and my wife.

Amen

23 posted on 08/02/2006 6:23:25 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)

To: AZamericonnie; All

24 posted on 08/02/2006 6:23:39 PM PDT by laurenmarlowe

Happy Birthday Allegra

Thank you for your courage!!!

25 posted on 08/02/2006 6:24:07 PM PDT by HopeandGlory (Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)

Evening herewego....For some reason I thought you might be a firefighter....is that right?

26 posted on 08/02/2006 6:24:48 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (Support the Troops...they support us!)

To: AZamericonnie

Beautiful thread honoring our Fire Fighters and families, thank you Connie!

27 posted on 08/02/2006 6:25:26 PM PDT by laurenmarlowe

To: AZamericonnie; FFforFreedom

You did a great job on this thread Connie!!!

28 posted on 08/02/2006 6:26:06 PM PDT by NYTexan

29 posted on 08/02/2006 6:27:01 PM PDT by Soaring Feather

To: AZamericonnie

30 posted on 08/02/2006 6:27:50 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)

To: laurenmarlowe

Good evening Lauren. Thanks for the links to Ft. Worth's first responders! *Hugs*

31 posted on 08/02/2006 6:29:32 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (Support the Troops...they support us!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ALLEGRA!!!

32 posted on 08/02/2006 6:30:15 PM PDT by MeekMom (Obey the Lord Jesus, the benefits are great!)

To: AZamericonnie

Foundered yesterday and came up lame today....had to leave work early.

Gorgeous weather here and most welcome. Sunny and the Trades have returned.

33 posted on 08/02/2006 6:30:25 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhauling is a sensible solution to mutiny.)

Happy Birthday Allegra!!

34 posted on 08/02/2006 6:30:56 PM PDT by laurenmarlowe

To: AZamericonnie

For some reason I thought you might be a firefighter....is that right?

Yes, kind of grew up in it.
Left in 1996 and still miss it a bit.
Thanks for asking..

35 posted on 08/02/2006 6:31:01 PM PDT by herewego (Got .45?)

Thanks Tex....it's the least we can do to show our appreciation! Thanks for the inspiration! *hugs*

36 posted on 08/02/2006 6:31:18 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (Support the Troops...they support us!)

To: ConorMacNessa

Good evening ConorNacNessa!

37 posted on 08/02/2006 6:31:18 PM PDT by MeekMom (Obey the Lord Jesus, the benefits are great!)

To: AZamericonnie

Good Evening AZamericonnie! Just checking out the little wind storm south of here....

How are you this evening?

38 posted on 08/02/2006 6:31:30 PM PDT by darkwing104 (Let's get dangerous)

Good evening, MeekMom. How are you doing tonite?

39 posted on 08/02/2006 6:33:34 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thanks for the ping Bro- hope all is good with you..

40 posted on 08/02/2006 6:34:24 PM PDT by herewego (Got .45?)

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