Memorial Day

While you all are out grilling, playing volleyball, camping, fishing, spending time with family... 

I sicerely hope you pause and realize what this day is for. Not for socializing, kicking off summer, or even just waving a flag.

Today is about remembering the amount of lives sacrificed over the last few hundred years so that you can be a free American. 

Today is also not just about one war. Too many focus on the losses from Iraq and Afganistan and forget that many generations before us have felt the blow of foreign wars and the toll it extracted from the families of those who perished.  

Think of the men who died simply for having the idea of a free country ruled by the people.  Men like Nathan Hale who were hung for speaking out about liberty and the rights of the people so long ago.

Men who pledged their "lives, [their] fortunes, and [thier] sacred honor" 

This is a day to reflect and be impacted by what so many sacrificed for you and for me. 

A Tough Start

My job with the Forest Service starts on Monday.  I'm a Forestry Technician and Wildland Firefighter on a helicopter module of 8 people.  This is my second year on helitack and I'm glad to be back.

If you've missed in the news, there have been two Forest Service helicopter crashes with fatalities in the last month.  One occurred in Texas and the other in Mississippi.

As a part of a helicopter crew, these tragedies lend a solemn beginning to fire season.  Not just for me, but for all fire personnel.  

We know the risks.  

We provide for safety at every level, but risk will never be eliminated.  

We are well trained.  

We are proficient in our field.

We know that the worst could happen, yet we keep going and keep serving.

Please pray for the men and women in the fire service to have a safe season as we mourn the loss of the fallen.