A letter to each and every first responder,

To the ones who arrive first, the ones that fix everything and everyone up, the ones who

make it pretty for the rest of us-- thank you. Thank you for the courage you work to employ

everyday, for the protection you provide and the abundant care that you carry in your hearts. To

the families, who send their loved ones into falling structures, unsafe buildings and unsafe

homes--thank you. I thank you for the support you send with the ones you love the most. Overall,

I want to thank all of you for the outrageous amounts of courage you share with the world every

single day.

It is very likely that whoever may be reading this does not know me. Well, I am a

seemingly insignificant 17 year old high school student that feels you underappreciated

hometown hero’s should be appreciated. Although, if you did know me, you would know that I

have a special weight in my heart for any of you who may fall into the category of law

enforcement or first responders. As long as I can remember I have always had an inside view of

a first responder family, mine is one. Although, I never truly understood what took place in

between the 48 hours of my dad walking out the door and then coming home. I simply had no

knowledge of what he faced or endured during this time away from me. As far as I was

concerned my dad left and then he was home and I waited and looked forward for him to be here

so we could play games and jump on the tramp. That is how simple it was, just time in between

games and the trampoline. Although, as I have grown up I have become beyond grateful and

sympathetic to the things he sees. The things that all of you see. I have first handedly seen what

sleepless nights and lack of rest can do to someone that is viewed as just another human. Another

human, another hero. To me, you are a celebrity, the most famous kind, my hero. You strap up
and gear down and do something that I never could, but wish I had the courage for. I uniquely

get the chance to witness the giant acts of goodness that these people hand out like it is nothing. I

have also witnessed the sad days that occur from a bad outcome or a situation that may have

been impossible to solve. I have grown to be an advocate for all of you, my dad, the men that

seem to be family and the ones that I do not know at all. I wish I could know all of you, hear

your stories and share the love I have for you in my heart. But, if you are reading this, I want you

to know that this seemingly unimportant high school student sees you and thinks you are the

most important.

Thank you to the Fireman. I can imagine not having a precise, certain job description or

procedure that is common to follow everyday is tough. Understanding and expecting the

unexpected. A grueling couple of days that can include saving cats from trees, or delivering

babies on the side of the road to checking on those who are homebound and stuck or rescuing

someone’s mom from an overturned car. Anytime of the day. You’re heavy hearts, grief and pain

do not go unnoticed and are appreciated over and over again.

Thank you to the Officers. Each day that you wake up and pin on your badge, may

possibly be the day that you do not make it home to take it off that night, but you continue to pin

it on every morning you are able. You run into situations that most others run away from and this

is something I truly admire.

Thank you to the Medical Technicians, EMT’s and medical crew. Your skill and poise is

truly commendable. You make a difference in so many lives. You carry some kind of calm into

what is someone’s worst day and you make it okay. You are the difference between a light

sprinkle and a downpour in the storm of life.

 Lastly, thank you to the dispatchers. The ones who sit and wait to answer a phone, that

they know will only hold terrifying information. Who take terrible words and transform it to

service and help. Thank you for handling every situation with grace and care.

Now, I wish I could give more than a thank you. I wish that I could save all of the weight

and pain. I wish I could spread the word. I want to give more than a “Thank you and I think you

are great.” You all are great and deserve the most appreciation that can possibly be given. I want

to thank you for the things that go on behind the scenes. The events that take over all aspects of

life, that cause you courageous heros to be limited in living YOUR own life. We all say so often

that these men and women put their lives on the line everyday, but do we as the general public

truly realize what that means? I want to call you to action. You being the people who have dialed

911, who have been helped by a dispatcher, an EMT, an officer or fireman. You are the people

that needed help, and these are the men and women who dropped everything to provide it. Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder is a hefty issue among first responders, and I feel it continues to be

blurred into the sirens and the lights.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs in more than 37 percent of firemen and 19 percent

of police officers compared to 3.5 percent of regular citizens. These men and women choose

every single day to get up and fight, they are fighting more than fires or thieves. They are

fighting for themselves who have PTSD or for the person next to them who does. For this I am

exceedingly grateful.

Thank you for serving courageously. Thank you for being there when we need you.

Thank you for being a force of good. Along with my thank yous, I want to say I'm sorry. I am

sorry that you do not get paid what you are worth. I am sorry for the long list of complaints you
recieve. I believe that good outweighs the bad, and I believe in the good you are all doing. Thank

you for being a light. Thank you for your service. I wish there was more that I could do to show

mine and many other support and appreciation for everything you do. You are all heros to me.