Post by Sparkle on Sept 14, 2005 19:30:15 GMT 10
My son Brian, now 35.........has just been notified that he will be receiving the California state firefighters Association medal of valor this Sept. 25th in Los Angeles, CA. It is one of the two highest awards here in California. This award comes late (about 15 yrs. late!) but, out of thousands of firefighters in this state he will be one of the handful to get it this year.
Here is what happened..........his old fire chief decided that he should be recognized, even though it has been a long time............for the saving of lives in a big forest fire. Surprise to everyone..........the state has chosen him!
When he was about 20 yrs. old, and a fairly new firefighter.......he was called out on a forest fire up here in the mountains. He was with another new...but, much older firefighter when he saw that the fire had changed directions and was coming right for them. He told the oder man to run "towards" the fire into the clearing and the other man wanted to run the other way, into the forest. Brian convinced him (extreemly loudly, I might add) and they ran into the clearing and lay down and pulled the silver coated blanket they carry.....over top of them. He told me it was like nothing he had ever experienced in his life!! The noise was like a dozen locomotives on top of you and the heat was almost unbearable and he thought he might not make it. The wind was so strong he could barely hold on to the blanket! He prayed that he was far enough away that a tall pine tree would not land on him ! They make it through and then he realized that a whole crew of fire workers from the "mens colony" were going to be trapped as the fire was heading for them and they didn't know it yet and would not know how to find their way out, as they were not regular firefighters. He made it to them in time and led them out, saving many lives that day.
I don't know why this wasn't submitted earlier but, for some reason it wasn't. Brian is really excited about this award especially cause it now comes right before he is filling out applications to many big universities back east to get his masters degree in business. Also, now he has two little sons.......Tyler 7 and Connor 5.......and his wife Stephanie of 15 yrs. to be at this event. I am very proud of my only son and it will be a very special day for me too!!!!
I've already told him that I want "everything" (photocopies) that has to do with this as I will be scrapbooking it all!! He said....."I know mom, you didn't even have to tell me." He knows me and my love of scrapbooking!
I guess I am just one proud MOM right now............
Here is what happened..........his old fire chief decided that he should be recognized, even though it has been a long time............for the saving of lives in a big forest fire. Surprise to everyone..........the state has chosen him!
When he was about 20 yrs. old, and a fairly new firefighter.......he was called out on a forest fire up here in the mountains. He was with another new...but, much older firefighter when he saw that the fire had changed directions and was coming right for them. He told the oder man to run "towards" the fire into the clearing and the other man wanted to run the other way, into the forest. Brian convinced him (extreemly loudly, I might add) and they ran into the clearing and lay down and pulled the silver coated blanket they carry.....over top of them. He told me it was like nothing he had ever experienced in his life!! The noise was like a dozen locomotives on top of you and the heat was almost unbearable and he thought he might not make it. The wind was so strong he could barely hold on to the blanket! He prayed that he was far enough away that a tall pine tree would not land on him ! They make it through and then he realized that a whole crew of fire workers from the "mens colony" were going to be trapped as the fire was heading for them and they didn't know it yet and would not know how to find their way out, as they were not regular firefighters. He made it to them in time and led them out, saving many lives that day.
I don't know why this wasn't submitted earlier but, for some reason it wasn't. Brian is really excited about this award especially cause it now comes right before he is filling out applications to many big universities back east to get his masters degree in business. Also, now he has two little sons.......Tyler 7 and Connor 5.......and his wife Stephanie of 15 yrs. to be at this event. I am very proud of my only son and it will be a very special day for me too!!!!
I've already told him that I want "everything" (photocopies) that has to do with this as I will be scrapbooking it all!! He said....."I know mom, you didn't even have to tell me." He knows me and my love of scrapbooking!
I guess I am just one proud MOM right now............
