So which day is it??!

[DFDRev]

In the past few weeks I have received several e-mails that various sources have forwared on to me, as well as read posts in these forums regarding the establishment of some type of Firefighters' Day.

There seem to be two different campaigns going on - my question is this: Which day am I supposed to be supporting: May 4 or Sept 11?

[FF.1205]

Good question DFDRev. I have asked myself the same question several times. All I keep coming up with is the question how do you memorialize the worst Fire Service Tradgety when the tradgety isn't over. I sometimes think that the day this Incident is closed as being the day that the memorial should be held on. ( I say that with all respect to the FDNY Brother's and would accept what ever date they and the families choose. ) One confusing thing for me is the matter of sticking with an exsisting memorial date for Firefighter's being that it is tradition. I tend to think it might be time for a change. I don't have the answers other then to think maybe it should be held on September 11. It works for me and is easy to do being that the son of a Chief Officer (FDNY) who was Lost that day is doing his best to see that 9-11 would become the Memorial Day for Firefighter's. After all he is the son of one of Our Brother's and feel we should support his efforts 110%. By the way that fine son is welcome in my Sta. anytime by the way you would make any Father proud!

Guess I can't answer question.

GOD Bless FDNY and all of the Lost FDNY Brother's and their Families.

Dave
Firefighter
FTM, PTB, RFB

[captstanm1]

I would think....as I am sure do others...that September 11th would have to be the day.

Call me dumb...but what does May 4 have to do with anything?

[DFDRev]

May 4 is St. Florian's Day - the patron saint of FF. This day has often been used by churches and communities to recognize and honor those in the fire service.

[rnd15fd]

Why Should 9/11 be the National Fire Fighters Day?!?! The Firemen were not the only ones who died that day. That should be a day in remembering the tragic events that happend that day and for the people (in general) who lost there lives. I just think that 9/11 should be everones day, not just fire fighters.

[FF.1205]

Interesting point md15fd since my G/F lost her cousin in the DC Pentagon attack and I am not so sure that it shouldn't be a National Memorial Day. A thought is that the day FDNY closes out the WTC Incident as being the one to be considered as as a National Memorial Day for Firefighter's.

I do try to honor them and keep their memory alive everyday by upholding even greater level of professionalism as a Firefighter in honor of all of our 343 FDNY Brother's that gave their ALL. It's the least we can do.

I just pray I never EVER see this happen again!

GOD Bless FDNY and ALL of the Lost Brother's and their Families.


Dave
Firefighter
FTM, PTB, RFB

[Brian #357]

May 4th should be the day, I believe. Sept. 11th will be a day for the nation to mourn it's great loss, just as Dec. 7th will always be for Pearl Harbor. I'm in on St. Florian's day so it's just for Firefighters to be remembered. God bless the FDNY and FF's everywhere, stay safe Brothers.
Regards, Brian CFD #357.

[SFDexplorer]

May 4th should be the day. because its uhhh....... well honestly its my birthday ;) :D

[kfd232]

You may all think I am crazy, but I don't think there should be a national firefighter day.

We have too many holidays in this country as it is, and I know this would be another political day....
The politicians parading us around in front of the cameras and smiling and saying what a great asset we are to the community, meanwhile they will continue to ignore our pleas for assistance... they will continue to cut our staffing, make us work with substandard equipment, and expect us to handle more runs with less.

I don't want a day honoring me and my brothers...
I am honored by those citizens who say thank-you, by the cards we recieve at the station telling us how much they appreciate what we do...
you see, this job is my life, it is not something to be celebrated once a year... Just take your time and money you would put into a national day and give me the best tools and personnel to accomplish my mission for you. That is all I ask.

As far as September 11, let that day be remembered for what it was.
A day when evil showed its ugly head on our soil, and a few good men rode out to meet it. I am so blessed to be a firefighter, and to even be associated by occupation with those guys who died is an honor that I hold deep inside me.

I will vote for a national firefighter day, when we finally can make it one year without losing one of our brothers. That would truly be something worth remembering.


be safe brothers

[postal79]

Amen brother, Amen

[FireBabe]

Six months after the tragedy of the terrorist attack on September 11 there have been numerous calls to consider moving International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) to the second Sunday in September.

To express your view on the matter and to assist us in deciding whether there is international support to move IFFD to September or retain it in May please visit the International Firefighters' Day (http://www.futureweb.com.au/edmondson) official website at http://www.futureweb.com.au/edmondson and cast your vote on the poll.

We need feedback from all over the world and all walks of life to properly guage whether we should now campaign for a change of date for IFFD or to support the inception of a National Firefighters' Day to be created in September instead.

PLEASE come and vote and ask friends, family and neighbours to also express their opinion.

Thankyou. TC&SS

JJ

[MetalMedic]

National Peace Officers' Day is May 15th and it coincides with National Police Week. I am confused as to why no one has come out in support of a day to recognize Firefighters to concide with Fire Prevention Week in October. It seems to me that people would be "in tune" more during that week with their firefighters than any other.

[FireBabe]

Hi Richard

When we first discussed the date for an International Day we had to take into consideration many different dates and views from around the world. The timing of Fire Prevention Week varied so dramatically that we couldn't consider usuing it. I agree with you however that it would be an appropriate time for each country to consider linking a National Firefighters' Day to.

Thanks for your input.

JJ

[stillPSFB]

G'day JJ,

I think that the date should be kept as May 4th for several reasons
1) It's the traditional date (and fire services are built on tradition)
2) To show Osama Bin Liner and his cronies that no matter how much he hurts us firefighters he isn't going to change our traditions (Up yours Osama!)
3) Because it would probably be lost in amongst all the other memorial activities if it was held on Sept 11

psfb

P.S. what caused the pellets to ignite at Inghams the other night?

[dmleblanc]

I gotta go with MetalMedic on this one...While September 11th will always be a solemn day in the history of the American fire service, October and Fire Prevention Week is normally the only time of the year that the American public, news media, etc., pay particular attention to the fire service. I think a Firefighter's Day should logically be associated with this annual event. As far as May 4th, I only came to realize who St. Florian was well after I joined the fire service (even having been raised Catholic), and I certainly never knew when his feast day was. I don't think that date holds special significance for most folks, firefighters or otherwise (other than being the eve of Cinco de Mayo)

:D

[FireBabe]

Hey folks this feedback is great!

Please share some of your thoughts for an International Day both by voting at the IFFD website http://www.futureweb.com.au/edmondson and also by commenting in the forum on the site.

I agree that a National Day should also be looked at, perhaps in conjunction with national fire prevention weeks in each country.

My site and email box is innundated by not only support of an International Day in May but also, more emotively, a number of US firefighters calling for September since the terrible tragedy.

In order to ensure that the day IS appropriate and what truely suits firefighters' internationally I need your feedback.

Thanks

JJ

PS I love your comment psfb ... would you mind if I post it in my forum? Which brigade is ps? You have me intreged!

The grain dust at the fire the other night was ignited by either friction or an overheated motor. Luckily it was fairly deep and thus not enough air to allow an explosion to occur!

[1835Wayne]

For all of you who didn't know, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has held the annual Memorial Weekend in the first weekend of Oct. for at least the last 3 years (not sure about before that).
I would have to say that there is no better time to have this day than in Oct. with the memorial weekend and fire prevention week.
May 4th would have to be my second choice though.

[E229Lt]

From what I heard the house accepted resolution H.J. RES. 71 declaring September 11th as Patriot Day. I further believe it was signed into law by the President.

If this is the case, there is little chance of 9-11 also becoming a National Firefighter's Day

JMO

[stillPSFB]

Originally posted by FireBabe

PS I love your comment psfb ... would you mind if I post it in my forum?

No worries JJ, feel free to post in your forum!

psfb

[SilverCity4]

I'm don't think we should have a National Firefighter's Day. This country has more "holidays" than we can even remember. The shear amount of "holidays" cheapens the ones that mean something.

That being said, if you're dead-set on having a firefighter's day, it should not be September 11th. That day doesn't need to be a holiday. December 7th isn't a holiday--it's a day of remembrance. We reserved the holiday for when we WON the war.

If you're set on having a firefighter's day, a day during Fire Prevention Week makes more sense.

No offense FireBabe, but (at least in my part of the country) no one really pays any attention to international holidays. That American arrogance I guess...

[MetalMedic]

Ok, now I am confused. If there is no "International" interest in using the United States' Fire Prevention week for a Firefighter Day... why would there be an "International" interest for using September 11th, since no one else other than the United States was directly attacked on that day?

As for May 4th... while I am sure St. Florian is an admirable figure in the Catholic faith, I am not Catholic. So, is it even proper for a Protestant to honor a Catholic Saint? I know I am not allowed to take communion in the Catholic churches I have been invited to. And I am again brought to the "International" argument. Can we be sure that St. Florian would be recognized internationally as a symbol for firefighters?