Today, while we remember the 9/11 tragedy that struck the hearts of the world 13 years ago, we remember those who lost there lives. We remember all those people in the towers; no evacuation plan could have prepared them for a mass exit of that nature. We pray for those who lost loved ones, and we pray for those who live with memories of that day. In addition to civilians, we remember the first responders, then men and women who braved tragedy, and who lost their lives trying to save others. Like the people in the towers, no amount of training could have prepared them for work that day. Today, I am thinking about the first responders. I am thinking about my sweet boyfriend, a fire medic, who is so dedicated to his job and helping the community. I think of his coworkers, our fire and EMT friends, who all have loved ones who want them home at the end of their shift. The spirit of our fallen heroes lives on in every first responder, the spirit of compassion and love.
When I was in Prague over the summer with my family, we came across this memorial to the 343 fallen heroes. Our tour guide explained that Prague receives frequent floods, and that their first responders always work hard to keep the historic structures intact and the city safe. For that, the residents respect them and appreciate them so very much. So four years ago, the city of Prague had this memorial made to commemorate the fallen American heroes, written in both Czech and English. It was truly heart warming to see this expression of love and appreciation of the tragedy we went through in America all the way across the ocean. The sentiment on the plaque reads:
A firefighter is a person who lives two lives, one for themselves and one for others.
Therefore the life of a firefighter holds a true understanding of all that is human.
Thank you to all first responders & military past, present, and future.
I pray for those still mourning the loss of loved ones.
We shall never forget.
--Caroline
