A Comment Worthy Of A Post

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Is Bigger Better?":

"Joe, you are so clueless about the Brotherhood of the Fire Service. First of all, it may be a cliche, but it's the truth when I say that to understand the brotherhood of the career fire service, you have to be a career firefighter. I have a story for you involving my own wife, which coincidentally also involves the firefighters of FDNY Rescue Company 3, in The Bronx..They are located on 176th street between Park and Washington Avenues. About 4 years ago, my wife was traveling to Ct. to attend the funeral of a friend who had passed suddenly. Just before the 3rd Avenue exit on the Cross Bronx, her alternator light came on. Luckily she made it to the exit and had enough to get to the end of the ramp when the car quit. I am sure you know, that is not a great place to break down, especially for a white woman in her 20's. In the middle of making phone calls, not knowing what to do (I was away on travel at the time and unavailable) and when she was just about to start crying, along come the on-duty members of Rescue 3. They saw the IAFF decal and the license plate, and her 4-ways on.....They found out what was going on, got her back to their firehouse, got an alternator for her car from a parts shop, installed it themselves, fed her, and sent her on her way. Thats my own experience on the receipt end.

I have also heard many many times over, of firefighters from all over the United States, bringing their children to Baltimore or Philadelphia for medical care at Hopkins or CHOP.....And the families being taken in by host firefighter's families. Complete strangers, bounded by the Maltese Cross, sworn to protect complete strangers, even ones as ignorant as yourself. Granted, the members of the SFD have a history of not making the wisest choices in the world, but you don't have to group the rest of us in with them.

There is a difference between our brotherhood, and your brotherhood. I don't pretend to know anything about yours, return the favor and don't pretend to know about ours.

(When was the last time you saw the funeral of a dead online newspaper editor get 10,000 people at his funeral?) "

My Reply:

Need I say more about my earlier Post. Of course you heard stories about other Fire departments fulfilling a Brotherhood, especially in New York. It's all about the Salisbury Fire Department, LOOK AT MEEEEEE. I am happy to hear your Wife was conforted and secured by such fine men and women.

I have many Family Members who are and have been a part of the NYFD and I would never expect any less from any one of them. I also noticed how you only mention career firefighters and mention nothing about volunteers. Again, this clearly proves you know absolutely nothing about Brotherhood.

You said, "Granted, the members of the SFD have a history of not making the wisest choices in the world, but you don't have to group the rest of us in with them." Well, you're right about that one. It's a shame your old Fire Chief would hire criminals. If you know me at all, I did not make my earlier statement in my Post pointing a finger at the entire SFD. I know many good men and women who serve for the right reasons but I also know many who purposely make sure sprinkler systems are not forced down the Council's throats because they save lives and property.

All too many of you want to fight fires, you know, reactive instead of proactive. Look at the building in Ocean City the other day. Saved by the sprinkler system. Nevertheless, thanks for your comment. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will comment away at it.