On a much lighter note from this terrible event I have a story to tell.
Several years ago, the Chief of Department at the time asked a favor of me. In the sixty man dept I worked in the Chief knows every firefighter. He knew I was a buff of the FDNY and had made a few buff trips to Boston. The chief said to me, you must know some guys at the firehouse where the Boston Marathan Race ends. I had no idea which firehouse it was, and I certainly didn't know anybody there. The chief wanted me to ask if the Mayor, and a few guys from the job could stop in at that firehouse after running the race to clean up etc. I think they wanted to park their cars there too.
I somehow found out that the firehouse they were referring to was Bostons Engine 33/Ladder 15. I knew of the firehouse and had been by it several times. But I had no idea of the Boston Marathon route ending near there. I somehow got in touch with the Boss (Captain) of that firehouse. He told me it would be okay for them to stop by. This goes back quite a few years so I assume things are much different now. So I passed on the word to the chief, who informed the mayor, that they got the okay to stop by. I told the other two guys on the job that were running the race also. I just hoped that everything worked out okay.
A few days later the chief told my captain to "have Dennis (my last name) come to the office". I wasn't to happy about it and the chief and I weren't exactly the best of buddies. He told me to sit down and he said "don't worry, you're not in any trouble". What he wanted to do was thank me for setting things up at that firehouse (33/15). He said those guys in that firehouse were GREAT. They let them clean up, change their clothes, whatever they needed. The Chief, Mayor, and the two guys on the job couldn't believe how good they were treated. I think the mayor and the chief wrote a letter to the firehouse thanking them. That was several years ago and I never forgot what those guys did for me. They had no idea who I was when I called and asked for this favor. All I told them was that I was on the job in Connecticut and two guys, my chief, and the mayor, would like to use the firehouse if they could after the race.
It apparently was quite a different scene this time for the members of Bostons Engine 33 and Ladder 15. A scene of chaos, injuries, and mass confusion. Our society has changed much since I made that phone call to the Captain of 33/15. Terrorist Attacks happened in other countries, not in the United States of America. Since that time, the World Trade Center was attacked in February, 1993 leaving six dead and 1,000 injuried. Then on September 11, 2001 the Worst attack to ever hit this country. The World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and the plane crash in Shanksville, Pa took the lives of thousands. Some today are still paying a terrible price with breathing problems, sinus problems, headaces etc.
Then there was the failed car bomb incident in Times Square. Also the so called "shoe bomber" in which an individual attempted to blow up a plane in flight. Now Boston is the choice of attack. Three dead and numerous injuried. Several are critical and have lost their limbs. One eight year old child was killed waiting to see his mother pass the finish line.
We are under attack. And as one person told me, you can't check every bag or backpack at parades, races, on ferry boats, trains, or buses. Boston had two bombs. The first went off. Then shortly after, the second. The cities are facing a new kind of War Years. In the 1970s and for some cities it was the 1980s, their War Years were Fires. Todays War Years are Bombs.
To those that protect us, please be careful. "I don't want your job". To the Police, Fire, Ems, and our Military, "Thank you for what you do". Thank you to the doctors and nurses behind the walls of the hospitals working hard around the clock trying to save those lives. And in a matter of minutes, those 911 call takers trying to put the pieces together as the phone calls came in. The truth is, we can't make it without each of you. Thanks again for what you do. And I sure do mean it.
