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Tradition? Honor? This is for the "new" guys!
My name is Kevin O'Brien and will not hide behind anything or anyone about being a Firefighter!
Where has it gone? Our spirit, tradition and honor! Too many young kids on the job forget what is important. Is it beacuse our lives are too busy? Perhaps!
I worked in the FDNY from 1981 and retired 2002. I have seen so many things. It made me strong in many ways and also made me weak. I learned from the past by paying attention to the "senior" members and so should you! Our history is your guidline to your future. Pay attention!
The days leading up to 9-11-2001 taught me many things. Being a Firefighter is not a job, it's a vocation, a calling if you don't mind. It is a LIFE. We marry , have chrildren but being a Firefighter is almost as important. BROTHERHOOD!
Being a Firefighter from whatever city or whatever town does NOT stop you from being involved. I say this now because so many have forgotten. Not only 9-11, but the firefighters who die each year..every year! This is our job to peserve the memory and honor of these people. OUR CALLING!
I run a golf outing in Myrtle Beach for the memory of NOT those who have died but the spirit of the Firefighters who stood up and came to our side. They helped our families, went to funerals and stood at our memorials! They were/are the key of our being. Come see how a group of people can stand as one. May 16 - 20, 2010 Look at fdnygolf.com for all the info.
Even if you can not attend. Remember one thing! TRADITION
NEVER FORGET............ANYONE!
KOB
Where has it gone? Our spirit, tradition and honor! Too many young kids on the job forget what is important. Is it beacuse our lives are too busy? Perhaps!
I worked in the FDNY from 1981 and retired 2002. I have seen so many things. It made me strong in many ways and also made me weak. I learned from the past by paying attention to the "senior" members and so should you! Our history is your guidline to your future. Pay attention!
The days leading up to 9-11-2001 taught me many things. Being a Firefighter is not a job, it's a vocation, a calling if you don't mind. It is a LIFE. We marry , have chrildren but being a Firefighter is almost as important. BROTHERHOOD!
Being a Firefighter from whatever city or whatever town does NOT stop you from being involved. I say this now because so many have forgotten. Not only 9-11, but the firefighters who die each year..every year! This is our job to peserve the memory and honor of these people. OUR CALLING!
I run a golf outing in Myrtle Beach for the memory of NOT those who have died but the spirit of the Firefighters who stood up and came to our side. They helped our families, went to funerals and stood at our memorials! They were/are the key of our being. Come see how a group of people can stand as one. May 16 - 20, 2010 Look at fdnygolf.com for all the info.
Even if you can not attend. Remember one thing! TRADITION
NEVER FORGET............ANYONE!
KOB
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rob on
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Ok Jack/dt, I don't know you from a loaf of bread, but it's pretty plain to me with your incessant what ifs and pedantic arguments that you are a part of the problem here, and not a part of the solution. With comments like 'no one will ever speak of you as a fireman's fireman' that just shows you up as another wannabe hero to me, so completely wrapped up in an image, give me praise for I do great things for not enough money, I'm a fireman dammit and you will respect me.
In reality you are probably the kind of fireman and person that I would have a great deal of time and respect for. Unfortunately, around here you would be in the minority. I can only base my opinions from the words and actions of those around me at the firehouse and on the fireground.
And yes, I am a firefighter. I've got a certificate that says so! :) hehe
Read (if you haven't already) Kevin O'Briens next post. That is a great post and goes a long way to helping define brotherhood as it should be. Based on his descriptions I am almost convinced that around my part of town brotherhood is all but gone, and that's the way it was well before I ever stepped on a rig.
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Thanks Kevin, I really like what you have written here. These comments and descriptions give me something to hope for, search for and work towards.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I don't know if the point was really missed Kevin, you are talking tradition and honor with a mention of funerals and now mostly addressing the issues of funerals and keeping the memory of the fallen.
In the recent LODDs just here in WI, there was a huge outpouring of support from FF's all over. The latest one was limited with how many could go due to the family wishes and limited space, but there was still an incredible amount of support. Regarding families of the fallen the FD and members still help out where they can, FF's attended the games of the fallen's kids because their dad no longer could and so forth.
Yes, there is a brotherhood out there, but the start of the thread was regarding traditions and honor, which is how I see the thread going.
Now, the issue seems to be more of a plug to get people to attend the golf outing. That's great that you do this and it does sound like fun, but if I don't attend, does that make me any less of a brother or the memory is lost? I didn't forget and I won't forget, but there are many ways of showing honor, remembering the fallen, and showing brotherhood even if making it to such an event is inpractical.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Kevin:
Many of us have written about brotherhood/sister, what it means to us on a personal level, why we believe it is fleeting, why some believe that it is as strong as ever. It seems everyone has an opinion on the meaning of brotherhood/sisterhood. Note that I include "sisterhood" in an effort to be politically correct, but more importantly, the sisters have earned their right to be included.
Please see my thoughts on "brotherhood" here: http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/brothersisterhood-i...
And Rob: I will only add to what has already been said with this: technology fails and it will be history lessons that has taught you to overcome technological failures.
It is unfortunate that your experiences has skewed your opinions of those who came before you. As Jack pointed out; the reason that we had long careers is because we learned by listening, then by doing. We learned how to use a TIC, but we also learned blind search. I learned to buddy breath in 1980, when everyone else was disconnecting and sticking the hose inside of their coats. You can use a vent saw now, but it is wise to take the axe also.
You get the point. You seem like an intelligent, articulate person.
Maybe someday, you won't treat firefighting like some form of social media. Maybe someday, you will experience a life changing event and come to realize that "firefighter and brotherhood" still means alot to many of us.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by ALAN BARBEAU on
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WELL SAID
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Rob,
with your incessant what ifs and pedantic arguments that you are a part of the problem here, and not a part of the solution. Seriously you have to explain how my pointing out that you seem very arrogant, disrespectful and disdainful in the way you write about "older guys" is actually part of the problem.
shows you up as another wannabe hero to me, so completely wrapped up in an image,Really your arrogance is limitless. The comment about "a fireman's fireman" (which I'm not at all surprised you've never heard) is a reference I HAVE heard, and it has nothing to do with the nonsense you replied that it shows you (me) up as another wannabe hero to me, so completely wrapped up in an image, give me praise for I do great things for not enough money, I'm a fireman dammit and you will respect me. This is clearly what I meant by your arrogance. What you wrote is insulting and offensive yet perfectly in keeping with your general attitude.
The phrase "a fireman's fireman" is high praise, it meant that the fireman held to every standard of training, honor and the brotherhood. That he knew, from years of experience how best to do a job. One who kept his skills sharp by constant training and met technology with open arms; anything that would make getting the job done easier and safer. I heard this phrase in reference to a fire officer who had died. To me it rang as the highest compliment there was, and still is.
I don't have a 'problem' with you but with what you wrote. Which I read word-for-word and literally. If you didn't mean what you wrote you need to re-think before hitting enter. A lot of what you wrote came off to me as unnecessarily disrespectful (not to me but the guys in your area mostly) and reeking of arrogance.
This is your direct quote in your first reply, "...I'm sorry to say, but traditions and belonging to a brotherhood are of virtually no interest to me." At no point subsequent did you ever explain or justify that comment (that I could find). I called you on it because in your two replies you didn't make it clear once that you held the brotherhood in any esteem. All you did was spout your animosity towards people you 'think' don't agree with you.
Why don't you go to the blogs section, scroll down and look for Kevin's original post there and then get back to me with any additional comments you might have. After I read his blog, I suggested he re-post it here in the forums for everyone to see it.
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Lt. Kevin "Two Times" Kelley, Boston FD, who died in early 2009 from injuries sustained in an apparatus accident, was described as a "firemen's fireman". Does anyone need anymore description than that?
Let me know.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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nice touch
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ditto... I lost it at 343... awesome story.
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You are so 'right on track' here Brandon. anyone moving from one department to another needs to heed your advice here. One of my favorite people that lived was Death Valley Scotty. On his gravestone there are words that do a good job explaining to men how to deal with other men.
"Don't complain, don't explain, don't ever say anything bad about anyone and never give advice because no one ever listens anyway..."
CBz
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Permalink Reply by Kevin OBrien on
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Sorry if your thinking of me a using my words to "PLUG" my golf outing. This is not the case, only an impression. I know when a Firefighter dies line of duty there will be no shortage of our Brotherhood that attend.....as it should be!
My point is deeper. Help our famlies who ever needs help esp. "non-line" of duty deaths. Wonderful example of Firefighters attending a game of the son of a lost Brother. That is what makes your hair stand up and well with pride..THATS BROTHERHOOD
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Permalink Reply by samuel Potter on
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Hay guys, I don't compleetly contest anything that has ben said in the earler conversations but, Im 17 what origanly drew me to the deparment was first the fact that I've aways loved helping people, but also the comradie. The brotherhood. I'm an only child. Growing up without any brothers or sisters I found outher idols. Firefighters were aways one of them. Once I beacame of age I joined them. Now I thoroughaly agree with the fact that todays teens are over gamed and under exposed to what auxley happens in the world. But to say that all new guys or young jr's lack the respect for the old guns is extreemly general. Now I beleve that alot of young people are now joining for thrill or stigma of being a firefighter but thats not everyone. In my station we have a great respect for the "elders" of the service. It's understood. These men have been through it all and long before Myself or any of the other Jr's. Also the way that you said " I say this now because so many have forgotten. Not only 9-11, but the firefighters who die each year..every year! This is our job to peserve the memory and honor of these people. OUR CALLING!" Sir I'm not shure how the people at your station are but we never let the name of a fallen comrad be forgoten. Every training setion begins with a paryer for them and every training setion ends with a prayer for them and there famlys. We've never forgoten and we will never forget. This will aways stand true thats why were part of the brotherhood. I appload what your doing in Myrtle Beach we need more people like you in this world, I would be vary honnored to play in your tourment.(I live in NC) I would greatly appreciate more info about the tourniment.
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