June 30th of this year, will be a date that many in AZ will never forget. On this day, 19 firefighters lost their lives at the Yarnell Hill wildfire. This has affected the nation greatly. One of the 19, his father lives in the same county I do. With me, it affects me on a different level. Did I know any of the 19, no I did not. However, i connect with them in the way of knowing what it is like to see your father or grandfather go off to a fire, knowing what could happen to them. My father, My grandfather, and My great-grandfather were all members of the Tn Div of Forestry.
My heart goes out to the families of these men. I pray for them daily and hope that they find peace in their grief. I watched the memorial service yesterday live on an abc station from Phoenix. Here is the link, if anyone wants to watch it.
Yarnell Hill 19 Memorial Service
It is heart wrenching. I cried the whole way through it. It brought up so many memories for me, of my own grandfather's funeral and the support from the fire departments and rescue and community we had, and remembering Papa going to CA and other states to fight wild land fires. I was so little when he would go and I don't think I knew the danger he was in but was so happy when he would come home.
Please take the time to remember of the families of these men in your prayers and to know that as these men and women go out to protect us and our homes from fire, that they might make the ultimate sacrifice of their own lives to save ours.
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