Thinking About First Responders During Holidays

As I write this week’s column, I am very aware of the wonderful celebrations that are ongoing across this great nation of ours as families, neighbors, and friends celebrate this glorious holiday season. However, as many of you know I have a background in both the fire service and law enforcement and can therefore not think about those we have lost over the last year who have served our communities in Public Safety. 

For those that put on the badge each day and leave their families to protect our lives, our loved ones, and our property, we find many of their loved ones mourning the loss of sons, daughters, spouses, and children. In the last five years, we have seen the deaths of 1,906 officers die in the line of duty.  

Some of those fatalities are related to ongoing illnesses directly related to the ongoing effects of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. 

Just this last week, we saw the senseless murder of Sgt. Elio Diaz, who was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in Charlotte County, Florida. A husband, father of four, and grandfather, Diaz had strong roots in the community. 

It is horrific to think of the violence that has spread throughout our nation and the targeting of our proud public servants in law enforcement. Many of these deaths were the result of specific targeting of those officers in unconscionable acts of violence and cruelty, many of which can only be described as “executions” of these unsuspecting officers by cowards that skulked in the shadows. 

You can’t help but wonder whether America’s moral compass has been somewhat “bent” in the last decade or more when you see marchers on the streets of our cities calling outright for violence against law enforcement in the most vulgar of terms. 

We have also laid to rest more than 60 firefighters in this last year. This number only emphasizes the great risk and stress that is associated with that proud profession of men and women that go back to the time of Benjamin Franklin. 

Exposure to deadly gases and toxins, along with prolonged physical exertion, has led to the passing of all too many over the years. As time goes by, we have seen the weight of equipment rise to the point that many firefighters carry approximately 75 pounds of protective gear and equipment as they proceed into the most challenging and dangerous environments. 

Couple that load, along with extended exposure to rising temperatures within a structure fire and you can understand the extent of the stress placed on an individual. 

The exposure to patients who may be carrying deadly infections and communicable diseases that are extremely contagious are some of the other risks they take during every shift. 

As we gather together each year for these wonderful celebrations we should cast our eyes to those trees that are so beautifully decorated and the gifts that sit under the various trees in our homes. We should remember that somewhere, out in our state and throughout the nation, there are families who will have an empty seat at their table. 

That seat will never be occupied again, and each year after this, they will always remember the Christmas that might have been had it not been for the sacrifice of their loved one in the performance of their duty to serve their community, its residents, and visitors. 

It is up to us as citizens to ensure our moral compass is once again aligned correctly. That is not the responsibility of the government, but instead, it is the responsibility of the people. We alone have that obligation, not only to ourselves but to future generations. 

Write yourself a note and put it on the tree this Christmas as a gift for the year to come. In that note, you should agree to do what is right for the greater good. Set your goals higher and take the time to be involved in moving our society back to the day when being right wasn’t as important as doing what is right. 

God Bless you all, as I wish for a safe holiday for you and our public safety professionals, along with our men and women in uniform.