To me, Remembrance Day is about more than commemorating those who fought for our freedom during the world wars. It's about celebrating those who continue to do so today.
There is an army of heroes who dedicate their lives to ensuring our safety on a daily basis.
Police officers may have a bad rep, and I'm not saying that there aren't some individuals who don't belong in our police force. I'm not trying to take away from those who have been unfairly treated - and in many cases killed - because an officer made an error in judgement. I'm not saying that arrogance doesn't stem from newfound power. I'm not saying that peaceful protests haven't been abruptly and violently shut down unnecessarily.
I'm saying that the world would be chaos without order.
We find comfort in knowing that the bad guys will get caught.
That somebody is working on keeping our streets safe.
And that somebody will come to our rescue in a moment of need.
Firefighters are especially my heroes.
The dedication, determination, and fearlessness that these individuals possess
is baffling.
I have a special relationship with firefighters.
15 years ago, my family home caught on fire. This was the home in which I baked cookies with my Easy-Bake-Oven for my dad, my uncle, and their friends as they built the addition one two-by-four at a time. At the time of it's destruction, my dad was the only person inside; he was asleep, and we can only assume the fumes took his life before the flames. It happened in the middle of the night - the fire department wasn't called until morning. So, although they weren't afforded the opportunity to save my dad, I find comfort in knowing that they have been fruitful in efforts to save the loved ones of others.
In the past, I made it a tradition to visit the local fire station (of whatever city I called home at the time) on the anniversary of his passing.
I'd bring baked goods and they would graciously take a moment to hear my story. My purpose was to thank them for the daily sacrifices they make in order to make sure that others don't find themselves in my situation.
This year I decided to make a new tradition. Instead of showing gratitude for my heroes, I decided to start being a hero in my own right - I donated blood for the first time. My blood type is O Negative, so I'm a universal blood donor. It feels really good to be making a difference in the lives of others in my own way. No matter what, the days leading up to January 28th are anxiety-ridden and incredibly emotional, but donating blood that day gives me something to look forward to, so admittedly, there is a selfish element to it.
Being a firefighter however, is selfless.
They mindfully put their own lives in danger to save the lives of others.
I can't imagine what it must be like for their families.
Always knowing in the back of their minds that this person that they care for so deeply, that they depend on, might not come home at the end of the day.
These people are so strong, and they need to know how much we appreciate them.
We all second guess ourselves at one time or another - is this job really for me? Is it worth it? Is it meaningful?
I know that the only way I can keep going is to say yes, yes, and yes.
So I hope that by showing my appreciation, it reminds them that it's all worth it.
The friends they have lost in the line of duty, the relationships they've sacrificed, the long gruelling hours of training, waiting, and working; I think I speak for many when I say "Thank you".
I'd like to note that I know little about being a firefighter.
But I know a lot about what it would be like without them.
We take this day to be grateful for the sacrifices made by our ancestors
, but this gratitude should resonate within us every day. We have been afforded an incredible foundation on which to stand - it's up to us to make it worthwhile.
