Hero’s who died, doing what they do.
In my mind, and in my heart I still don’t believe Alan Jackson really understood the meaning of that phrase. As I sit back, hear the song, and look at the images there is but one that comes to mind. But you must understand, one thing. NO ONE, not a single person, or camera captured this shot.
So, let me paint you a picture, that you may see it.
As I have looked at the hundreds of pictures from that day, I can only find a few that showed the reality of what it was “hero’s” do. You see paramedics, firemen, policemen, and all rescue personnel all run right in as everyone else runs out.
In the midst of the craziness, no one bothered to grab a camera, or to flick a shot. No one even said :good luck” to the rescue teams that walked right by. I found one picture that someone did get. A fireman from engine company 24 in NYC. Climbing the stairs of one of the towers that morning. His look was simple, if you didn’t know where he was at the time. It just look like just another day. And too us in Emergency Response, that is all it is. It didn’t matter it was a terrorist attack, or a fire. This was a rare thing, a plane into a building that should not be part of the situation. There was a lot of adrenaline running in the veins of everyone there. “Hey we are finally going to be on the lead team in on a plane crash”. Yea that is most likely one of the ideas on a lot of folks mind as they ran in.
Now look at yourself in a mirror, and remember that day. Can you remember the expression on your face. The shock, the disbelieve, the horror. As you look at yourself, image the face of medic, or a fireman, or policeman looking back at you. A look of calmness, no worries, and a look that says, we got this.
Well you see that is what we do. For 15 years as an EMT/Paramedic in NYC. That is how we approached everything. The training is one thing, but folks had to almost be cut from a different fabric. Take a NYC Fireman, for example. I can remember standing next to one in front of train, with all the power still on, and the possibility of someone being underneath. With a simple look into each others eyes, the next step was clear. Just jump, on the track let’s see once and for all. I know, that a normal way of thinking.
But I still don’t think we were hero’s, but we are gifted. Because the good Lord blessed us with a desire to help, and serve those who need it the most, when they need it.
Do you remember the look on the face of the last fireman, paramedic, or policeman that came to help you?
Here we come!!!
My first phone call with my mom after that day, she said “I am glad that you were not in NY, because you would have been inside that building.” She was right. You see here is the key to remembering those who “did what they do”.
The Bible says: Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13. Rescuers have this verse, embedded into their hearts, minds, and souls. So how fitting that this year 9/11 falls on a Sunday, and as some choose the honor those fallen hero’s take a moment and thank GOD, that he placed them here with us. So that they could “Do What They DO”
Thank You for remembering my fallen brothers!
MedicSmurf 