Thanks Dave

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Name of Hero: All My brother and sister firefighters

Hero City: Worldwide

Submitted by: Dave Cranton

I came across this song today by chance. I Love it. It brought a few tears, and a great feeling of pride.
I have been eating smoke since I was about.. 16 (actually before, but that wasn’t legal) I am 58 now.
I spent 20 years in the U.S.Air Force, and volunteered every place I went even overseas.
Firefighters are all the same..selfless, dedicated, Brave (read that as crazy) but above all, brothers/sisters.
This is just the best tribute I have heard, I send it out to a few of my bros that are no longer here to respond.
Thanks Dave, for giving me that great feeling of pride.

My Dad My Everyday Hero

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Name of Hero: Harold

Hero City: Maybrook

Submitted by: Melissa

“Everyday Heroes”, the song and video talk about the life I had growing up. My dad was a part time police officer and a volunteer firefighter. I spent many nights listening to the scanner to make sure Daddy was ok while on a call.

The scene with the man threatening to shoot his wife [in the Everyday Heroes video], reminds me of the night I sat listening to Daddy responding to a fight at the local bar. Mom and I heard Daddy get sent to the fight, we heard Daddy say they had arrived, a few minutes later another officer’s voice came across with the code for officer down, then he said to call the coroner, and then he told the dispatcher to land-line our house.

When the phone rang Mom just sat there looking like she was going to pass out, I was already heading down the hall to wake my brother and sister when I heard Mom saying to tell Daddy she was glad he was ok. It turns out his partner was the one who was killed, Daddy always felt bad because his partner was just a little faster and got in the door first so he was the who was stabbed.

The video shows what the first responders do when they are called and how much they put themselves in danger to keep their promise to protect the citizens of their village/town/city. People don’t always realize that fire fighters and police officers do their jobs with very little thanks.

I remember seeing Daddy come home from fighting a fire all night, and instead of getting some sleep he was only home long enough to shower and get dressed before heading out to his day job. No matter how tired he was he always went when the fire horn blew.

My Uncle’s Firefighting Team

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Name of Hero: Joshua

Hero City: Studio City

Submitted by: Annie

I am a student just out of college who spends most of my time helping others in any way I can, rather than with my friends. I’m strong, fast, smart and can crack a few jokes on the job. My parents hate how I decided to help people. I’m a firefighter at my uncle’s fire station. My 2 dads hate how I put my life on the line to rescue babies, pets, toddlers, children, mothers, fathers grandparents out of fires.

I have had some very close calls but one I will NEVER forget last summer 2011, we get a call from dispatch of a fire in a two story home. When then hear there are 4 kids and 2 adults. When we had gotten there the whole house was engulfed with flames. I put my oxygen on and my uncle Joshua or Josh and I went in along with one female firefighter and a male firefighter. While me and my uncle headed up the stairs he told the other two to stay down there because the parents rooms are on the first floor. We were headed to rescue the 4 kids. I found a 6 year old boy named Tommy and a 10 month old girl named Molly. The little boy was scared because I had to break the door down and I guess he wasn’t expecting it. So I get closer to the boy and I tell him not to be afraid and that Im a firefighter and here to rescue him and his family. He was so happy that he ran up smiling at me and told him to hold on so I can grab his sister who was in the crib in the same room.

I made it out with both of them in my hands and I asked the EMT if the other 2 kids came out and he said no. Then I asked if the parents made it out and they did and were transported to the nearby hospital with a PICU and NICU. They were on stand by for the 4 kids in the PICU and the NICU for the 10 month old at the time. I ran back in to look for my uncle on the second floor. 3 minutes of searching for him, I find him holding a 14 year old unconscious and bleeding from somewhere. Josh told me that he can not find the other child and I look in the closet and there’s the other one hiding. He was 6 years old and identical to the other one but his name was Sam. He was scared so I told him that I rescued his sister and brother and there both outside or at the hospital. I told my uncle to go and get out with the 14 year old, who we at the time didn’t know what his name was so that he can get immediate medical attention from the waiting EMT. I told him to tell the EMT to contact the hospital and tell them that they need 3 PICU beds.

Sam and I got stuck in his room so I wrapped him in a fire proof blanket that I had with me and jumped through the door that was on fire. The floor was starting to collapse and I had to get out quickly so I didn’t crawl and plus Sam can’t last any longer in the house. So I risked every thing and gave him my oxygen mask and we got to the first floor. One minute after we got to the first floor and looking around at to figure where I possibly was in the house but after a minute the oxygen runs out and the boy takes the mask off because he doesn’t want it so I unplug it and I find my uncle and he took my oxygen tank and mask. And then a beam on fire falls and so I loose view of my uncle so now I don’t know where he went. I found the kitchen which meant I was half way out of the house. I get knocked onto the floor by a flashback close to me that came from the kitchen window. Then another beam falls and lands on my ankle and the boy is not in my arms he sitting next to me. I finally get my foot out but of course it hurts and I don’t want to scare the kid any more than he already was, so I suck it up and pick him up and limp out of the house.

The window was taken out completely and since the door was engulfed with flames I had to jump out the window. Just as I jump the house explodes but we got all the family pets and people out of the house and we land on our backs but he landed closer to the house than I did. Then there is another flashback from a window on the other side and I get on top of him and keep him from catching on fire or getting burned. The flashback was strong enough that it threw the glass out the window and cut my rip but it was big piece, so I didn’t need sticks cause my jacket took most of the glass. I limped all the way to the ambulance and the EMT wants to check me out but I told him in two minutes because I have to talk to my uncle about why I didn’t have my oxygen mask on.

After that SAM was at the ambulance and the EMT wasn’t going to leave until he saw me. Half way I guess I passed out, I don’t really know what happened but I woke up in the hospital in the same room as the 2 boys because their parents had died before they got to the hospital. We all took in the kids as one of our own and I took the girl molly and the 2 twin boys. But when I woke up Sam was sleeping right next to me on my bed on oxygen through nasal cannula and so when I moved a little and he went crazy and got all happy and runs out the room to get the doctor and my uncle, the chief, was crying outside in the fire truck.

He told me that I almost didn’t make it. But I think he was annoyed at me for removing my mask. But I always put the one I am rescuing first, then myself. We were both very heroic but I was told by many of my firefighter friends that I was way more manly than my uncle was. I wasn’t in the news because I felt that even though I was heroic it wasn’t something I wanted to brag about or get rewarded for. I was trained to do this. This its my job. Its just like the Navy Seal dude who kill bin laden and didn’t want people to know it was him because he felt that he was doing what he was told to do and was trained to do it.

A selfless hero.

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Name of Hero: Bruce.

Hero City: I sorry I cant Say.

Submitted by: Sean

Well, this will be the second time I have submitted. I feel compelled to tell this story as the hero of whom I speak placed himself in harms ways for my sake.

I am a police officer in a small city in Western Canada. Towards the end of shift this last summer a call of a disturbance came across the radio at a local convince store. I was backing a ticket I had just written in a parking lot near by. The call quickly evolved into an armed robbery.

Subsequently I requested dispatch clear me from my traffic stop and send me the call. While en-route It became clear that the robbery had become an armed robbery with a gun and that the suspect was still inside the store. As I approached the area I tuned off my light bar and entered the parking lot from the opposite side of the side where the windows were. As I pulled into the parking lot a fellow officer was screaming on the radio he had eyes on the suspect and that he suspect was now pointing a gun at him. I quickly made my way to a window opposite of where the officer was, knowing I would be nearly 180 degrees to him and that the gunman would have is back to me. As I looked into the window I saw the gunman holding a clerk at gun point.

The gunman transitioned his weapon between the clerk and the other officer on scene . As the gunman walked backward with the clerk at gun point, he increasingly became closer to me, within 10 feet of the window. At this point I decided to fire my weapon and stop the threat posed to me and, at the time, an unknown amount of hostages inside the store. As I began to pull the trigger on my Sig, another clerk jumped from behind a counter directly into my line of sight. Thank Christ, literally, I stopped the pressure on the trigger and did not fire my weapon. I attempted to regain another sight picture of the gunman with negative success. Not being in a suitable cover position after that I retreated to a mid-size tree for cover. I was now about 30-40 feet from the window. Certainly not a desirable distance for a gun fight with a pistol.

At this point I looked to my left as I heard someone yell, “I’m going to ‘Sean’….” I then observed Bruce running across the parking lot, in plain view of the gunman, toward my position. Bruce had a carbine rifle with him at the time. Bruce took position with me and we remained there until the gunman was talked down by a hostage inside the store and eventually came outside and was arrested.

The point I want to make is that Bruce, literally, placed his life on the line as he ran to my position. He knew that I only had a pistol and that if a fire fight broke out I was seriously outgunned. That guy ran his ass across an open parking lot while a gunman had him in plain view because he knew I was in jeopardy, being in the position I was with the fire power I had. I have never thanked him directly for this. I should. I will.

Since then I have been to many calls with Bruce. This guy is the guy you want to be with when bullets fly and blood hits the ground. Bruce is the “typical cop”. He does what he does cause its hard wired into him. And he loves it. He put his friggin life on the line to cover my ass. Amazing. I only pray someday soon I can repay the debt.

If someone reads this story and knows of any awards, rewards etc for such hero, please reply. I would love to get him recognized for what he had done, and is doing.

Sean.

My Grandmother

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Name of Hero: Carrie-Beth Pearl Gochie

Hero City: Limerick,Maine

Submitted by: Carrie-Beth Pearl Gochie

I had to call 911 for my Grandma. She fell and broke her hip. I found her on the floor. I ran out the to get my Grandpo. I told him that Esther is on the floor. I ran back inside with my Grandpa. He trid to move her.

She told us that she had been on the floor for three hours. She said to call my mom and dad. I went to call 911. I told the dispatch all the info that the rescuers need to get here fast.

The first rescuer was her.

I told them that she been on the floor for three hours. Then the ambulance got her. The rescuer lift her up on the bed. She when to Goodall hospital. When I got in the hospital the rescuer gave me a word for saving my grandma.

So Thankful

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Name of Hero: Brent and the Whitney Volunteers

Hero City: Porcupine Ontario

Submitted by: Lesly-Ann Humphrey

I had to call 911 for my husband. By mistake the dispatcher said a 58 yearold not responding. Brent, thinking at that age it could be my dad and he came right to the house. Man, in seconds he was working on my husband.

Our bed was in the closet and my husband’s needs were being met.  Brent didn’t stop there, when the question went out, “Who is driving Les?” he said immediately, “I am.” As we drove his compassion shone through as he said we have the ambulance in sight. Then went on to assure me I had done everything I could.

His professionalism, his compassion, his ability just radiated. On top of being there for me, he came to our home just in case my children who live out of town had any questions.  That goes way beyond the call of duty. BUT trust me, we will never forget how quickly Whitney responded to our needs.

Special folk in a special place.

Thank God for each and everyone of our everyday HEROES.

Mine Rescue

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Name of Hero: Mine Rescue Men and Women

Hero City: Timmins ON

Submitted by: kim beamish

I wrote a note to the boys to thank them for their concert last night. I also wanted to share a poem with them that was written for our Mine Rescue Men and Women . Below is the letter I emailed the boys . They wrote me back and suggested I share it on this site. So here it is :

Thanks for sharing your poem Kim. It’s beautiful. Mine Rescue definitely falls under the 911 umbrella and your poem gives a moving perspective on the sacrifice and the risk. I assume it went over well? You should submit it to the 911song.com site.

Thanks also for coming to the concert and for the kind words. We love coming home each year and it’s one of the most important trips we make.

All the best, Dave

On Sat, Dec 3, 2011 at 10:48 AM, kim beamish wrote:
Hello,
I would like to let you know how much I enjoyed your concert last night firstly. It brings the Christmas spirit into my heart. Your concert is joyful and wonderful to watch.

I would like to comment on your First Responders song, mostly for the reason that my husband is a first responder . He is part of a group of men from his mine at Xstrata Copper in Timmins who train through the year, every year, in order to be the best they can be as a first response team in underground emergencies and disasters. The Mine has a competition team of seven men who train to compete against other mines in the district then the team who takes the District Trophy goes on to compete at the Provincial level. The goal of the mine rescue competition is to have men exposed to as near life like disasters as possible in order to experience rescue under extreme circumstance and conditions. This in turn hopefully has our guys as ready as they can possibly be.

My husband has been in Mine Rescue for 30 years. He was the Captain of the Xstrata Copper team for many years. I am beyond proud of him and his men. When, at the awards Banquet one year, asked to give a speech, a toast to the Men of Mine Rescue as the Captain’s wife, I was searching for the right words to honor these men. The Men of Mine Rescue, I thought, I am as proud of all of them as I am of my husband. I feel for their families and friends when they are called out. I had no words that could, in my heart, even tell them how much we appreciate them and so, I wrote a small poem to them to try to cover everything I know we all felt and feel every day. Because we feel this for all Miners, not just our community. When we hear of a mine disaster far away, or close, we all feel for the Men going into Rescue and the families and friends waiting behind the phone. And we weep for the men and women waiting for rescue. Praying that they all make it out.

I wanted to share it with you both because your video touched my heart and I wanted to expand on the types of Rescue Men and Women. I know the video shows a few and the meaning encompasses them all First Responders and Rescue personnel, but I still wanted to share our experience with you.
A Mine Rescue Prayer

It’s a game to most people
Win or Lose, break the tie.
What these people aren’t thinking
is that a man could die.
The Game has a purpose
to be the Best of the Best.
Life saving skills are being put to the test.
Fierce competition drives each and every man
Preservation of Life, is the first Command.
As we watch, we should reflect on what this
competition truly means.
It means some day
a group of men will be called
To help save their friends,
to help and and all.
The point of their training
becomes crystal clear.
The Game was rehearsal
for their worst fears.
We pray for the Games to continue.
That these men can put their knowledge to the test.
That they will always strive to be,
the Best of the Best.
Each time I get a call
at three a.m. or so,
I am so tempted to ask him,
“Please, don’t go.”
But I don’t ask
I know where he stands.
He’s already thinking of his friends,
whose lives are in his hands.
It’s then that I go kiss him ,
and I whisper a Prayer.
I pray for their safety,
their courage, their lives.
I pray for these Mine Rescue Men
on behalf of their wives,
their children, their friends.
I pray they all come home
to us again.

Thank you for writing songs that touch a people individually and as a community.
Sincerely,
Kim Beamish.

St John Ambulance

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Name of Hero: st john ambulance

Hero City: all over canada

Submitted by: jeff stamper

I joined St. Ambulance in June of 2011, hoping to get a head start on my dream of being a firefighter.

When I went to my first training night, I got to know everyone. It hit me that these are every day people that volunteer their time to do events and train weekly to save lives.

I am now a fully trained medical first responder and they people I join on duty with St. John Ambulance are my every day heros. The heroic actions of these men and women working events and responding to major disasters with police, fire and ems, on a drop of a dime, just amazes me.

thank you

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Name of Hero: alan

Hero City: trenton

Submitted by: firefighter alan logan

i just what to say this is a nice song and i really like it thank you bother i am a firefighter thank you once more and stay safe bother

The Silent Door

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Name of Hero: David Arce

Hero City: New York City

Submitted by: Luis Torres

I had the privilege of being neighbors with David Arce a NYC Firefighter in Manhattan NY.
David was a single man I’m guessing in his early 30’s. Lived on my floor and I would have brief chats or quick hellos when we crossed paths or rode the elevator together. He kept in shape by jogging on his days off.

One night I bumped into him on the street as he approached our building on E14th Street after what I assume was a softball game. He carried a bat and other baseball gear. Not knowing him very well I decided to tease him about not being a real ballplayer. As I walked away he looked at me eyes wide open, smiling trying to come up with a response to someone he hardly knew.

It occurred to me at that moment that he was just a kid, but a kid with huge responsibilities that come with being one of New York’s bravest.

A few days after the shock of personally witnessing one of the Towers crumble on that terrible day I thought of David. I asked my neighbors if they had seen him, but know no one had. I knocked on his door for the first time since he moved in hoping he would answer.

So David I’d like to thank you through this venue for your attempts while on duty. I just know you were flying up those stairs.