America's Bravest

A firefighter's life is one big surprise,
Usually he laughs, sometimes he cries,
There's always stress, toil and strife,
Hoping he's good enough to save just one life.

His wife understands when he misses dinner,
If he runs out of church, don't think he's a sinner.
Answering a call is tops on his list,
Regretting each one he's ever missed.

He tries and tries, but can't make us see,
The happiest men still work for free.
Jumping from bed, fighting the cold,
Knowing what to do with out being told.

He rushes to the station, jumps on a truck,
Depending on skill, never on luck.
Putting his life on the line for an unknown friend,
Hoping and praying it won't be the end.

"The Bravest men in the world", the title is fitting,
They all do their best, never come close to quitting.
Next time you see them, all their lights blinking,
Take just a minute, to think what they're thinking.

It's a hard job; so show them you care,
And help them out with a little prayer.

The Last Alarm

My father was a fireman.
He drove a big red truck.
And when he'd go to work each night,
He'd say "Mother, wish me luck."

Then Dad would not come home again,
Till sometime the next day.
But the thing that bothered me the most,
Was the things some folks would say.

A fireman's life is easy.
He eats and sleeps and plays.
And sometimes he doesn't fight a fire
For days and days and days.

When I first heard these comments,
I was too young to understand
'Cause I knew when people had trouble,
Dad was there to lend a hand.

Then my father went to work one day.
And he kissed us all good-by.
But little did we realize.
That night, we all would cry.

My father gave his life that night,
When the floor gave way below.
And I wondered why he'd risk his life
For someone he didn't know.

But now I realize
The greatest gift a man can give
Is to lay his life upon the line
So that someone else might live.

So as we go from day to day
And we pray to God above,
Say a prayer for your local fireman.
He may save the ones you love.

— By Boise Fireman Jim Martinez