Jon parked at the edge of the grass and
was soon surrounded by a dozen or so members of L.A. County Fire Department
Squads 71 and 88. They were dressed in dark blue pants and sweatshirts and
fleeces. They were friendly, they were glad to help, and they had no idea what
was going on.
“Something about this
cross?” one of them asked. “And 9-11?”
Their faces tightened
and their eyes narrowed as Jon gave them a quick explanation. Without any
further conversation they all jumped in, lifting the cross off Jon’s truck, carrying
it out to the middle of the field and laying it down.
“I didn't know what this
was all about,” said Bob Fidani. “None of us did. But this is amazing. Really.
Thank you so much for inviting us down.”
“No one will ever
forget,” said fellow fireman Dave Salhus. “But memories do fade. Driving this
cross-country is going to make a huge, huge impact. It’ll remind everyone what
9-11 was all about.”
For some, 9-11
was about terrorism. For some it was about America’s sudden vulnerability, or
our altered position in the world, for better or for worse depending on one’s particular
view.
For Bob Fidani and Dave Salhus and the rest of the men there that
evening, and for firefighters all across the country, 9-11 was about making
that ultimate sacrifice. Giving in order to make this country great. Being our
best when times are at their worst.
No comments:
Post a Comment