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October 25, 2001 - A Firefighter's Story
Welcome to 2TheHeart!
"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours."
~Ayn Rand
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Make a difference in the life of a child with Save the Children. Please sponsor a child online for only $24 a month. Please help today! http://www.qksrv.net/click-404250-1194232
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Don't forget it's Make a Difference Day this Saturday! Do a good deed and send me an email about your experience! I'll be sharing them in the Letter Box on Monday and will keep them anonymous! Make a difference!
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After September 11, I know that Americans as well as the entire world, have an even deeper respect and gratitude for firefighters. We have a new writer at 2TheHeart, who shares his inside perspective of a family legacy of fighting fires in the great city of New York. Here is part one of one hero's story.
"A Firefighter's Story"
By Charles Francis Farrell
It's nineteen-forty-eight at Our Lady of Good Council Parochial School in Brooklyn New York. A tall Franciscan Brother is writing on the blackboard. A white rope tied around his waist and draped down the side of his long brown robe, a hood resting gently on his shoulders.
The attention of the class of twelve-year-old students is broken by the sound of sirens that came from the open schoolhouse window. The sound of the sirens grows louder and louder than lower and lower as it fades away as fast as it had stolen their attention.
"Take a moment of silent prayer for the firemen" the Brother says, than continues with his math lesson.
"So You Want to Be a Fireman "
My father was a member of the Fire Department during the great depression. "I was the only one in my neighborhood with a steady job" he would constantly remind the family. He eventually worked in the Fire Commissioners Office in charge of transfers.
In June nineteen-fifty-four I stated in my highschool yearbook that I wanted to be a fireman. Following my Dad and brother Matt seemed to be the natural choice.
I was twenty-two years of age and five feet, ten inches in height when I was eligible to apply for the Fire Department. The tough part was that my weight, soaked wet, was all of one-hundred twenty-nine pounds. I looked like Barney Fife. Passing the written exam was not easy and, passing the physical exam, next too impossible. Remember I told you my dad was in charge of transfers? My dad assigned most of the men who worked at the medical office. They were all anxiously waiting for me to show for my physical exam. Show was the operative word. We had to strip down naked to take the physical.
The candidates on line looked like they were trying out for the Mr. Universe Contest. When it came time for me to get on the scale, I gave my name, "It's him, it's him" they whispered. I watched the needle on the scale strain to reach 129 pounds as the guy in charge yelled out, for everyone to hear. "160 pounds". The Mr. Universe candidates all watched in bewilderment as Barney, I mean I stepped off the scale. On December 8, nineteen-sixty-two, I was sworn into, as they say, "The Job". It was special as I received my father's
original fireman's badge. It first went to my father, than to my brother and eventually to me.
When I finally made lieutenant they saved the badge for my nephew. Talk about pressure, the badge would not be passed on unless you were promoted from fireman to lieutenant. My father was a lieutenant in charge of transfers. My brother was a lieutenant at that time on his way to Manhattan Borough Commander, Assistant Chief of the Department.
"Training School"
The day I was sworn in, I quickly found out the disadvantages of having a father in charge of transfers. The class of 60 recruits stood as close as they thought was attention. It was our first day at training school. We were still in civilian clothes. The Lieutenant shouted "ATTENTION." He looked directly at me and said one step forward." He ordered the men "Left Face, FORWARD MARCH." He put his arm around my shoulder, as we walked along side the brothers marching. He said, "I understand your father is in charge of transfers, I really would appreciate a transfer to Queens." It took a long time before I could get the trust of my fellow recruits. Often, things are not as they appear. One of the brothers was a six foot four inches Ex-Marine. Unfortunately, he had a fear of heights and froze half way up the Tower Ladder. Conversely, I was climbing the outside of a five-story building with what we called a Scaling Ladder. As I reached the top, I heard the instructor say "This kid is a lightweight, but he's all guts."
My father said he was going to take better care of me than he did my brother by sending me to a slower company. My brother started out immediately in a busy company. "After all, your wife has a heart condition and you should be close to home in Queens." he would say. My assignment was to an Engine company in Queens.
"Special Breed "
Firemen are a special breed. Fear, risk, destruction, tragedies are parts of their job. These demons are tucked away in their subconscious and are camouflaged with humor. Whenever firemen get together they rarely talk about fires but more about the funny things that happened while on the job. Firehouse humor has its own uniqueness. Sometimes it's a biting humor and other times it's a
mischievous childlike humor.
"Introduction to the Firehouse"
I received my orders to report to an Engine Company in Queens. I was both excited and nervous to report to my new company. I entered the door to the firehouse and saw a fireman on house watch. He said "OK kid, the Captain is waiting to see you in his office upstairs." The trip up the stairs to the Captain's office went on forever. Finally I entered his office. This guy was a young captain. This tells me he's sharp to advance so fast.
"Don't just stand there, salute your Captain", he said. I responded "Yes Sir" and almost stuck my thumb in my eye in my haste to salute him. "This job will not be a walk in the park". "Do you think I had it easy?" he said. "Well ah, oh ah" I replied. "Things are not always what they look like" he continued.
He stood up from behind his desk and walked over to the file cabinet. To my amazement, he was completely naked from the waist down. Suddenly I heard a sound of laughter coming from just outside the office. This character is not the captain but the Probe appointed to the company about a year prior to me, dressed from the waist up as the captain. The brothers were behind the open door, trying hard not to laugh out loud.
Charles Farrell, Age: 65
Retired NY City Fire Department 1962-1985
cfroe56@aol.com
Charles is a retired New York City Firefighter and has penned "Part 2" to his fascinating story of the brotherhood of firefighters, which will run November 8th. Send him an email in appreciation for his story and years of service!
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The Letter Box:
Anne Dear,
I love this story! I could just picture your son Carman, standing there in his Boy Scout uniform with tears in his eyes. Our 12 year old grandson is also a Boy Scout. My husband went through the scouting program. It is such an upstanding organization.
You should be so proud of Carmen. Wearing his uniform was the only way he could think of to show how he felt about that sad day. I wish Sept.11 had been just a bad dream, but it was a horrible reality.
It makes my heart sing as I see how our citizens are uniting. They wear the flag on their shirts and coats. I see great love for our country every evening in the huge lighted American flag on top of the big hill across town from us. We have a perfect view from our kitchen. The lights for the flag are paid for by donations. If I could look into Carman's eyes as he wears his uniform, I'm sure my spirit would be uplifted even more. He is our hope for the future.
Love & Hugs,
Pat Lowe
pawlowe@televar.com
Anne,
What a special story. Tears sprang up unsolicited. I can identify completely as I have a grandson that age, his Dad (my son) having been a Scout, then served in the Marine Corps as well as did my husband, Lt. Col.,USMCR, retired. During WWII, said husband (then my sweetheart), all three brothers, and brother-in-law were in uniform, most serving overseas in harm's way. So the picture of Carman standing there in his uniform touched my heart. I'm proud of him for you.
That also inspires me to write about this past July 4 as relates to my husband and the Corps -- another touching scene. I'll try to do that soon. Thanks, Anne. May God bless you and that son of yours. And may God bless America.
Love in Him,
Gloria Stargel
Author "The Healing"
www.brightmorning.com
Anne,
How incredible... you have written a masterpiece and I am so proud of you! Carman is such a joy and I hope you know how important you are to the development of the wonderful traits he displays every day. Children always mimic the characteristics of their parents and you have given him an unending supply of positive, compassionate, and loving Christian attributes to admire, develop and use in his own life. What a pair you two are!
P.S. If that's the story you sent to God Allows U-Turns, well, as far as I'm concerned, you're a shoe-in! What a beautiful piece of work! (I simply cannot wait to meet you and Carman--and our Susan!)
Love and congratulations!
Deb Simmons
simmons@pathway.net
Dear 2TheHeart:
Many thanks for publishing Anne's story about her precious son. "On My Honor" reveals a young man much wiser than his eleven years. Thank you so much, Carman, for taking a stand in these tough times...a stand for what is right and honorable, fair and just. You'll go far in life as long as you maintain your focus in the proper direction and follow your fine mother's good examples. I want to read more about Carman, so Anne, please share with us readers!
Sincerely,
Sandi Pound
sandifla@earthlink.net
Dear 2theheart,
"On My Honor" was an outstanding story!!! I was so impressed with this young man's integrity and sense of honor. What a special child he is. Thank you for this beautiful story - it made my week!
~Geena
Dear Susan,
Just finished reading "On My Honor"and it touched home. And with many others I am sure. I can only hope that this attitude spreads throughout our great nation!Can this terrible tragedy bring this country back to the moral's and attitude's that it was founded on? One can only hope that it will reverse a little of the degradation we have all seen in our lifetime.In our local school district it has even brought quite a few back to prayer (Yes in school) Hopefully, we will be brought back to a time when it prayer is the "standard "and not the exception. As alway's you are doing a great service to the world "One story at a time".
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