What is a Firefighter?

Firefighters are a brotherhood. They are men and women from all walks of life. They will give their life in the line of duty, they will go out of their way to give comfort to a frightened child. They are the people we grow up in awe of, watching them on their way to a call, sirens and lights blazing.

They are the people I grew up around, they are a part of my life. They are in my soul, the people on this earth I respect the most. They are the people I hold in deep esteem, and who I applaud with a job well done, and those who I cry for when they give their life in service to mankind.

It takes a special person to be a firefighter, and only someone borne with the instinct of service to their fellow man, can do this job. They are kids at heart, but are inherent of a breed that most can never match. Not everyone can face the prospect of a fire or injured person, and go to every incident in the knowledge that they may be called to give their own life to save another.

What is a firefighter? They are the men and women of the FDNYC who gave their lives in the ultimate sacrifice, to save their fellow citizens. They are every man or woman who has ever worn the badge. They are the crews; past, present and future of the Ventura County, California, Fire Department. They are the crews of Fire Station 53 in Port Hueneme, California - men like Ike Baldwin, Danny Spykerman, and Ray Crawford; and all the guys who worked there when I was a child.

And the one is my father, Wayne Jones. The man who taught me the most selfless thing one can ever do is serve his fellow man; who never gave up; who put his life on the line many times, but God chose not to take him from us. The man who taught me that firefighters are people of honor and dignity, courage and grace. And for him, the one, I shall always honor those who are part of his brotherhood.