Add a Comment

Comment by Bulldog324 on March 23, 2008 at 6:50pm

to To Ken Johnson and Dawn
i as a military member and the member of the local fire dept and the one my father had gotten me started in many years ago onley have one questino to you sir,what kind of person are you,in the community that i come from when there is such an preceeding weather it is one of the local community or of and firefighter,or military personal.the people have the respect to stop and mourn the person.it not done out of ignorance of holding up traffic its out of respect for the dead.i hope someday you will need help from my brothers and sisters on the fire and ems and you learn the respect of what they do ,some day it will happen

Comment by Buffy FF Mom on March 22, 2008 at 11:18pm

To Ken Johnson and Dawn
The responses you have received are exactly what you deserve. Spend a day attending one of these funerals and you will see how important they are to the immediate family members left behind and to the members of the public service family or military family the person lived and worked with, especially if there are survivor members of the incident that caused the loss. It is a time of healing.

I spent last Friday at as Military funeral for 22 yr old Sgt. Robert "Bobby" Rapp of Sonora, CA (google that) who was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. I was proud to see the support of my county, people lining the streets with flags, the schools opening their doors for the students to show their respect and the unrelated public service agencies (fire police ems) by sending employees in support.

The family of this young man were amazed at the response of the community and found some peace in the support they received from the community.

I hope I will never be in the position to be the recipient of this support but, by god, I hope it will be there for me as it has been for other friends. That is provided people like you and "Official Arrogance" have not taken it away.

Comment by Chaz2771 on March 16, 2008 at 1:19pm

I heard a pretty good quote at work one time and I think it fits Mr. Ungrateful: "It's better to be thought an idiot, than open your mouth and remove all doubt"

Comment by Gordon Hennigs on March 16, 2008 at 12:25pm

holy smokes! that ungrateful jerk would need a medic unit in my part of the world, one of our more supportive members of the community would probably have private chat with mr. jerk.

Comment by Will2745 on March 16, 2008 at 7:32am

I suppose this jerk would say the same thing about one of our returning military heros, after they gave their life for his freedom..
Mr Johnson, I feel ashamed to call you a countryman of mine,,but yes,,,if you ever need the emergency services,,they will be there for you..jerk!!!

Comment by Lori Greeno on March 15, 2008 at 10:38pm

Obviously this man has no understanding of the fire service. Did he really think that there is no coverage available? That every single engine and EMS vehicle were at that funeral? I think that a small percentage of the public will not get it and he is among the small minded. I'm just glad that he lives in So Cal not up here in Nor Cal. If he had written that about my husband's funeral you can bet there would have been a fight on his hands. I can tell you that the wildland fire community down south, which is really large, is up in arms about this letter. Quite frankly, I was surprised to see that he put his name down. What do you want to bet it's a fake?

Comment by Doug on March 15, 2008 at 9:33pm

My thoughts exactly! I'm appalled this so called newspaper would even publish an editorial such as this!!!

Here is the comment I left on the newspaper's website;
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Official Arrogance, you are the arrogant and ignorant one!!! I hope you never move to Pennsylvania, because if you do you will be held up in traffic often. Not only for the funeral of a firefighter, police officer, EMT/Paramedic, or military, but you will be held up in traffic for the funeral procession of any and all Jane and John Doe's where I live. Get a life, and show some damn respect!!! And It's safe to assume that if you, or anyone else stuck in traffic, had some type of medical or other emergency while waiting, 99.9% of those participating in the funeral procession would have come to YOUR aid.

Comment by Lori Greeno on March 15, 2008 at 8:52pm

I am good friends with this firefighter's family liasion. There has been nothing but issues for the family throughout this whole ordeal. How lovely for them to have to read this jerks comments.... And to think that the folks he is putting down will unselfishly come and save his house if need be. Shame on him!

Comment by Doug on March 15, 2008 at 8:45pm

I'm so angry over this that I am speechless........