This is our third year publishing The Red Edition of the Tate Record in honor of our local fire departments. It’s a special edition to my heart for several reasons.
First of all I can relate because after my father left the Marines, he signed up to volunteer with the local fire department. He continued to do so steadily moving up the ranks until he became chief down in Panama City, Fla. Two years ago, he finally retired after an injury prevented him from serving to his fullest capacity. By the way, he earned that injury in the wake of Hurricane Michael leaving a trail of devastation through the vacation city. My father was working to help locate people in the rubble when he stepped on a piece of metal completely covered by a layer of sand.
I’ve always been proud of him and the lessons he instilled in me by his work ethic, but he’s not the only one who answers that call to serve.
Firefighters across this country risk their lives daily running into burning buildings, responding to medical calls, helping with vehicle entrapments and assisting in search and rescue missions. Yet, how do we as citizens thank them and show them appreciation? Do we still show respect for all their hard work and efforts?
Here locally, we’ve been dealing with an issue which resulted in our local firefighters being absolutely disrespected. A lady who is not from around these parts who has been spotted scantily clad in our local parks making vulgar videos to further her online media following decided to enter one of our fire departments.
Now keep in mind, when I say “our” I mean that the fire departments are funded by tax dollars. So in a way, citizens pay for our local heroes to have a home while they wait for that next call out. We as citizens bear a certain amount of responsibility in ensuring our departments are respected and not destroyed or vandalized.
Well, this woman who does not own a home in Tate County, does not earn a living by paying into the tax base and isn’t from here, entered the department while firefighters were out on a call. She made another of her videos donning what might pass as a bathing suit and a coat of one of the firemen. She also wore a helmet belonging to one of them.
At any other home, the residents would be outraged that this woman broke in and made a video while wearing their clothes and accessories. Again, the fire stations serve as a home for our guys when they are on duty. So why aren’t more people outraged that this woman helped herself into their home which we, as a public, provide.
The disrespect is appalling but is also only the tip of the iceberg.
We can do better. Society, as a whole, can do better to teach that police officers, EMTs, dispatchers and firefighters deserve more respect and honor. Their homes do not deserve to be featured in cheaply made, sleazy videos of half-naked vulgar dancing women.
So I know I’m going to do better about thanking our firemen and women. Imagine the pride they’d feel knowing their entire community stood behind them and appreciated all the things they do for us. Because I’ll tell you this, while we ponder how to say thank you, they don’t think as they rush to save lives. They just do it.
