Firemen's Prayer
When I am called to duty, God,
Whenever Flames may rage,
give me strength to save some life
whatever be its age. before it is to late,
or save an old person
from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert
and hear the weakest shout.
to quickly and efficiently
put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
and to give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbor
and protect his property.
And if according to my fate ....
I am to lose my life,
please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.
Author Unknown
Robert Dismas McMahon, 35, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Robert William McPadden, 30, Pearl River, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Terence A. McShane, 37, West Islip, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Timothy Patrick McSweeney, 37, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Martin E. McWilliams, 35, Kings Park, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Raymond Meisenheimer, 46, West Babylon, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Charles Mendez, 38, Floral Park, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Steve Mercado, 38, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Douglas C. Miller, 34, Port Jervis, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Henry Miller, 52, East Norwich, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Robert Minara, 54, Carmel, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Thomas Mingione
firefighter , New York Fire Department
Reported missing, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Paul Thomas Mitchell, 46, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Capt. Louis Joseph Modafferi, 45, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Dennis Mojica, 50, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Manuel Mojica, 37, Bellmore, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Carl Molinaro, 32, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Michael Montesi, 39, Highland Mills, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Capt. Thomas Moody, 45, Stony Brook, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Vincent S. Morello, 34, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Christopher Mozzillo, 27, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Richard Muldowney, 40, Babylon, N.Y.
firefighter , New York Fire Department
Reported missing, World Trade Center, at/in building
Michael D. Mullan, 34, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Dennis Michael Mulligan, 32, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Raymond E. Murphy, 46, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Robert B. Nagel, 55, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
John Napolitano, 33, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Peter Allen Nelson, 42, Huntington Station, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Gerard Terence Nevins, 46, Campbell Hall, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Dennis Oberg
firefighter , New York Fire Department
Reported missing, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Daniel O'Callaghan, 42, Smithtown, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Douglas Oelschlager, 36, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Joseph J. Ogren, 30, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, 43, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Samuel Oitice, 45, Peekskill, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Patrick O'Keefe, 44, Oakdale, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Capt. William O'Keefe, 49, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Eric T. Olsen, 41, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Jeffrey James Olsen, 31, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Steven John Olson, 38, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Kevin O'Rourke, 44, Hewlett, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Michael Otten, 42, East Islip, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, 33, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Frank A. Palombo, 46, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Paul Pansini, 34, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
James N. Pappageorge, 29, Yonkers, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Robert Parro, 35, Levittown, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Durrell Pearsall, 34, Wainscott, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Glenn C. Perry, 41, Monroe, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Philip S. Petti, 43, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, 42, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Kenneth John Phelan, 41, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Christopher Pickford, 32, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Shawn Edward Powell, 32, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Vincent Princiotta, 39, Orangeburg, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Kevin Prior, 28, Bellmore, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lincoln Quappe, 38, Sayville, N.Y.
firefighter , New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Michael Quilty, 42, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Leonard Ragaglia, 36, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Michael Ragusa
firefighter , New York Fire Department
Reported missing, World Trade Center, at/in building
Edward Rall, 44, Holbrook, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Adam David Rand, 30, Bellmore, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Donald J. Regan, 47, Wallkill, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Robert M. Regan, 48, Floral Park, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Christian Michael Otto Regenhard, 28, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Kevin O. Reilly, 28, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Vernon Allan Richard, 53, Nanuet, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
James Riches, 29, New York, N.Y.
firefighter , New York Fire Department
Reported missing, World Trade Center, at/in building
Joseph Rivelli, 43, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Michael Roberts, 30, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, Ladder 35, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Michael Edward Roberts, 31, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, Engine 214, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Anthony Rodriguez, 36, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Matthew Rogan, 37, West Islip, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Keith Roma, 27, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Patrol
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Nicholas P. Rossomando, 35, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Paul G. Ruback, 50, Newburgh, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Stephen P. Russell, 40, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Michael Thomas Russo, 44, Nesconset, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Thomas E. Sabella, 44, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Reported dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Christopher Santora, 23, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
John Santore, 49, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Gregory Thomas Saucedo, 31, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Dennis Scauso, 46, Dix Hills, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
John A. Schardt, 34, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Thomas G. Schoales, 27, Stony Point, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Gerard P. Schrang, 45, Holbrook, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Mark Shulman, 44, Old Bridge, N.J.
fire prevention and risk consultant, Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc.
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Gregory Sikorsky, 34, Spring Valley, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Stephen Gerard Siller, 34, West Brighton, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Stanley S. Smagala, 36, Holbrook, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Kevin Smith, 47, Mastic, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Leon Smith, 48, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Robert W. Spear, 30, Valley Cottage, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Joseph P. Spor, 35, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Capt. Timothy Stackpole, 42, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Gregory M. Stajk, 46, Long Beach, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Jeffrey Stark, 30, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Benjamin Suarez, 36, New York, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Daniel Suhr, 37, Nesconset, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Lt. Christopher P. Sullivan, 38, Massapequa, N.Y.
firefighter, New York Fire Department
Confirmed dead, World Trade Center, at/in building
Firefighter's Wish...I Wish You Could See
I wish you could know what it is like to
search a burning bedroom for trapped
children, flames rolling above your head,
your palms and knees burning as you
crawl, the floor sagging under your weight
as the kitchen below you burns.
I wish you could comprehend a wife's
horror at 3 in the morning as I check her
husband of 40 years for a pulse and find
none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring
him back, knowing intuitively it is too late.
But wanting his wife and family to know
everything possible was done to try to save his life.
I wish you knew the unique smell of
burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus,
the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear,
the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of
being able to see absolutely nothing in dense
smoke-sensations that I've become too familiar with.
I wish you could understand how it feels to
go to work in the morning after having
spent most of the night, hot and
soaking wet at a multiple alarm.
I wish you could read my mind as I respond
to a building fire "Is this a false alarm or a
working fire? How is the building
constructed? What hazards await me? Is
anyone trapped?" Or to an EMS call,
"What is wrong with the patient? Is it
minor or life-threatening? Is the caller really in
distress or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?"
I wish you could be in the emergency room
as a doctor pronounces dead the beautiful
five-year old girl that I have been trying to
save during the past 25 minutes. Who will
never go on her first date or say the
words, "I love you Mommy" again.
I wish you could know the frustration I feel
in the cab of the engine, squad, or my
personal vehicle, the driver with his foot
pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm
tugging again and again at the air horn
chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way
at an intersection or in traffic.
When you need us however, your first
comment upon our arrival will be,
"It took you forever to get here!"
I wish you could know my thoughts as I
help extricate a girl of teenage years from
the remains of her automobile. "What if
this was my sister, my girlfriend or a
friend? What were her parents reaction
going to be when they opened the door to
find a police officer with hat in hand?"
I wish you could know how it feels to walk
in the back door and greet my parents and
family, not having the heart to tell them
that I nearly did not come back from the last call.
I wish you could know how it feels
dispatching an officers, fireman and EMT's
out and when we call for them and our
heart drops because no one answers back
or to here a bone chilling 911 call of a
child or wife needing assistance.
I wish you could feel the hurt as people
verbally, and sometimes physically, abuse
us or belittle what I do, or as they express
their attitudes of "It will never happen to me."
I wish you could realize the physical,
emotional and mental drain or missed
meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities,
in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen.
I wish you could know the brotherhood and
self-satisfaction of helping save a life or
preserving someone's property, or being
able to be there in time of crisis, or
creating order from total chaos.
I wish you could understand what it feels
like to have a little boy tugging at your
arm and asking, "Is Mommy okay?" Not
even being able to look in his eyes without
tears from your own and not knowing what
to say. Or to have to hold back a long time
friend who watches his buddy having
rescue breathing done on him as they take
him away in the ambulance. You know all
along he did not have his seat belt on. A
sensation that I have become too familiar with.
Unless you have lived with this kind of life,
you will never truly understand or
appreciate who I am, we are, or what our
job really means to us...I wish you could though.
Author Unknown
The Creation of the Fire Fighter
When the Lord was creating fire fighters, he was into his sixth
day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're
doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And the Lord said,
"Have you read the specification on this person? Fire fighters
have to be able to go for hours fighting fires or tending to a person that
the usual everyday person would never touch, while putting in the
back of their minds the circumstances. They have to be able to
move at a second's notice and not think twice of what they are
about to do, no matter what danger. They have to be in top
physical condition at all times, running on half-eaten meals,
and they just have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of
hands...no way." "It's not the hands that are causing me
problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes a fire
fighter has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair to see through the fire and where
they and their fellow fire fighters should fight the fire next.
Another pair here in the side of the head to see their fellow
fire fighters and keep them safe. And another pair of eyes
in the front so that they can look for the victims
caught in the fire who need their help."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work
on this tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can
carry a
250-pound man down a flight of stairs to safety from a burning
building, and can feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."
The angel circled the model of the fire fighter very slowly,
"Can it think?"
"You bet," said the Lord. "They can tell you the elements
of a
hundred fires and can recite procedures in their sleep that
are needed to care for a person until they reach the
hospital. And all the while they have to keep their wits about them.
Fire fighters also have phenomenal personal control. They can
deal with a scene full of pain and hurt, coaxing a child's
mother into letting go of the child so that they can care for
the child in need. And still they rarely get the recognition for a
job well done from anybody, other than from fellow fire fighters."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the
cheek of the fire fighter."There's a leak," she pronounced.
"Lord, it's a tear. What's the tear for?"
"It's a tear from bottled-up emotions for fallen comrades. A
tear for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the
American flag. It's a tear for all the pain and suffering they
have encountered. And it's a tear for their commitment
to caring for and saving lives of their fellow man!"
"What a wonderful feature. Lord, you're a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber and said, "I didn't put it there."
Author Unknown
The Last Alarm
My father was fireman.
He drove a big red truck
and when he'd go to work each day
he'd say, "Mother wish me luck."
Then Dad would not come home again
'til sometime the next day.
But the thing that bothered me the most
was the thing's some folks would say,
"A fireman's life is easy,
he eats and sleeps and plays,
and sometimes he wont fight a fire
for days and days."
When I first heard these words
I was young to understand
but I knew when people had trouble
Dad was there to lend a hand.
then my father went to work one day
and kissed us all goodbye
but little did we realizes
that night we all would cry.
My father lost his life that night
when the floor gave way below
and I'd wondered why he'd risk his life
for someone he did not know.
But not I truly realize
the greatest gift a man can give
is to lay his life upon the line
so that someone else might live.
So as we go from day to day
and we pray to God above
say a prayer for your local fireman.
He may save the one's you love.
Author Unknown
FDNY firefighter Michael Moran words to
Osama bin Laden
at benefit Concert for New York.
"Kiss my royal Irish ass!"
Sound file from FireHouse.com
