Volunteerism

Sorry if this article sounds familar, but it's the first one I wrote as a contributing editor back in 1998. I have been busy with my new job and moving into my new house. Hope y'all understand. I will be submitting an article as soon as I can. Thank all of you for your continuing support.

It is that time when we care enough, that our friends and neighbors have such a need, we answer their call for help, for such is our duty and will. For it is the time, in the dead of winter, with the wind chill and temperature well below zero, that the fire siren wails and the pager tones break the silence of a cold winters night, that we jump out of bed to answer that much needed call for help. We then return to our quarters with icicles hanging from our helmets and our ears nearly frost-bitten; yet we clean our gear and repack endless rolls of hose in readiness of the next alarm. With hopes and prayers that our friends and neighbors will stay out of harm's way, just losing a few hours of sleep or rest for our efforts. People may wonder why I do what I do. Why am I here? The answer is simple, I am a volunteer! Imagine that in the heat of Mid-September, 90 degrees and climbing; the alarm sounds with the dispatcher announcing a large field fire. The work is tiring and time consuming, but the oath we took is to deny nobody our help. Family time, special moments, and maybe even work is lost, and for all this, what is our cost? Just to remember the reason I am here. There is a need somewhere out there, I am a volunteer. We may fight amongst ourselves because we disagree on such, but when the siren cries out, all the foolishness is left behind to answer the call for help. We come together to conquer the task at hand. I have spent thousands of hours learning my trade, in classrooms, in-house training, at fire schools, and at the training center. Why? I learn these traits to serve the ones I swear to protect. These lessons are my tools. This is to make the obvious clear; I am a volunteer. The alarm sounds again and someone lies injured or dying. We do our best and keep on trying. Whether it be 5:00 A.M. or 5:00 P.M. the call is for an auto accident with

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