Job Talk: August's Story

First In, Last Out: A Reflection of 9/11

Now, place yourself at the World Trade Center on 9/11, both towers are burning at their upper levels. People are trapped, elevators are non-useable, and YOU have to haul extrication equipment up flights of stairs to reach them. You are climbing up while hordes of frightened people are rushing down. The stairways are dark as you climb, reality hits you that this is a one-way trip yet you took an oath to serve and onward you advance until you became HEROES.

Volunteer Fire Departments from all over New York and Long Island mobilized and were directed into the city to provide backup services for the city's depleted ranks. Brothers helping Brothers, Sisters helping Sisters — volunteers filled the void of FD's losses for days, weeks, into months till all our Brothers and Sisters were recovered.

Many firefighters are still dying today from the exposures they faced that day. ALL are HEROES.

So as I close my thoughts on this day, I ask those that are new to our ranks to ALWAYS remember the oath you took when you joined. BE PROUD that we are FIRST IN, and LAST OUT.