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“When I am called to duty, God,
whenever flames may rage;
Give me strength to save some life,
whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late,
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life;
Please bless with your protecting hand my
children and my wife.”
“Firemen’s Prayer” by A.W. “Smokey” Linn
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” a divine truism
emblematic of the foundational bonds that undergird and inextricably link our nation.
Nowhere has that love been more vividly expressed than in the selfless sacrifice of our
beloved first responders…and especially in the nobility of our firefighters. Their own
mantra, eloquently expressed in A.W. “Smokey” Linn’s “Firemen’s Prayer,” is a moving oath
and testament to the humanity and honor of our firefighting brothers and sisters. Through
its expressions, their character is truly revealed as they selflessly put others above self.
As I paid tribute to these heroes, the words of their hallowed prayer profoundly moved me.
Perhaps no greater act manifests their courage and resolve than that of the firefighters
who selflessly entered the embattled towers on 9-11, an event that although a decade
removed, stands as an indelible tribute to the unconditional love and selfless service
of our heroes. In this tribute, I portray a fireman deliberately ready to engage whatever
obstacle threatens. His gear ready and his rig prepared, he purposefully moves to fulfill his
oath. Whether engaging a fire, rescuing a family, or providing lifesaving assistance in an
accident, we rest secure in his service knowing that when his duty calls, he will not falter
in his purpose of service to others. God bless our nation’s firefighting heroes…would that
we all live and serve with such dedication and distinction!
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