This story has kept me busy that past few days. Another one of the web sites I run is VAFireNews.com. The State Fire News web site has kept up on all the news following the deadly crash between Rocky Mount Wagon 1A and an SUV.
There are plenty of issues related to this crash which can be debated and reported later.
Right now, we have two brothers to bury. We have friends to comfort. We have families to console. We have a 97 year old Volunteer Fire Department which has never had a LODD to help out.
Follow the following links to the story, obituaries, and details of the accident and our fallen brothers.
- Initial coverage including links on VAFireNews.com
- Continued coverage including external links on VAFireNews.com
- Obituaries and Funeral arrangements for our brothers
The links above have many other links to local news agencies coverage.
Thanks for your coverage of this horrific incident. Allow me to express a different take on this, as I did in my post over at FireDaily.com.
Although we have two brothers to bury, I would argue that now is the PERFECT time to draw our attention to the totally controllable issue of buckling up every damn time we sit our asses in any apparatus.
Why? Because we are burying two MORE brothers.
Even sadder is that there will be EVEN MORE to bury as we move forward because we dance around the issue when we could be grabbing it by the cajones and making their deaths have some positive effect to keep others from suffering the same fate. While the issue is forefront. While most are shaking their heads and asking why.
Right now.
Today.
AS we bury them.
AS we help a department get through their first LODD's.
AS we console their families, friends, brothers and sisters.
AS we say “our thoughts and prayers are with you”, make their deaths mean more by ACTION.
This doesn't detract from our compassionate consolation. Why? Because instead of faulting them for their tragic mistake, we HONOR THEM WITH ACTION in the truest sense of fire service tradition. Like we always have.
See, there is no time to put this aside for a debate on another day. As soon as we see a learning point from this crap, we need to jump on it immediately.
The time for ACTION is right now. Today. Before we have to go through this senseless agony again and again and again……
John,
I respectfully disagree. I understand your point of view, however let us bury our brothers and then we can start dialogue while the reports are being done.
I have plenty to say on this…trust me.
I just think that out of respect we should at least wait until we can give them a proper burial.