The Few, The Strong, The Firefighters

Before August Twenty-ninth-
In the Year Two Thousand Five,
Many people fled their homes
The result is they're still alive.

Those that stayed didn't fair as well-
Oh sure some are still alive,
And they will tell tales of Katrina-
A hurricane the class of FIVE.

Some men and women had to stay-
And watch their families leave,
They gathered at strategic places-
On what I'd call the hurricane eve.

Parish workers, Sheriff's Deputies-
Politicians, the National Guard,
With my brother Firefighters-
Watched waters rise into the yard.

A window blew out the building-
As water crashed through the door,
The white caps on the waves-
Assured that we would get much more.

And more is just what kept coming-
Six, eight, ten feet and plus,
Over all the cars, all the trucks-
Three feet over the School Bus.

It stopped just below the second floor-
Of the Government Building we were in,
Now that the storm has subsided-
Our call into service will now begin.

Our men knew just what to do-
Gather things needed to survive,
Procure some boats and motors-
Try to find all that are alive.

Plucking people from the windows-
From the roof and from the street,
Boating victims some five hundred pounds-
Surely was no small feet.

They started at the break of day-
Working Long throughout the dark,
Feeling helpless as they saw red flares-
In the night skies pass the park.

Some sort to catch a few winks of sleep-
As they tried to dry their socks,
While lying on a gravel roof-
Their blankets placed upon the rocks.

Pacing the roof without sleep-
With a cell phone-- Area Code 504,
Trying to contact a loved one-
But that area code works no more.

They started each and every day-
More determined than the day before,
'Cause time was growing very short-
For those trapped on an attic's floor.

Ingenuity displayed those first few days-
Solving any obstacles in their way,
Has left me very awe-struck-
And I still am--to this day.

We are now spread through the region-
And 'though some may never return here,
You have shown that firefighters-
Really do "Fight what others fear"

To my brother Firefighters I say this-
And I say this very, very loud,
I'm glad of our association-
You make me very, very, proud.

       Raleigh Richards
       Deputy Fire Chief
       St. Bernard Parish, La. 10/3/05

Printer Friendly Page