#class a uniform

[mashupofmylife]

For better or worse, fire departments know how to show up for funerals. 

Bagpipes. Drums. Men in kilts. Massive flags being flown off the elevated sticks of aerial towers.

5 tahoes, 4 ambulances, 1 heavy rescue squad, a utility pick-up truck, and 2 18 passenger vans winding from the church all the way back to the station, with all the lights on and a police motorcade escort the whole way too, just to bring her home one last time. 

Standing outside for too damn long in a dress uniform that was definitely not made for 90+ degree heat. But also somehow being identified as a significant person and getting to participate a little more in the actual ceremony. Actually sitting in the church and hearing my fire chief almost lose it completely when he described us as her “second family”

In a lot of ways, today sucked. But also, we had the backup and support to make sure that we were all able to go and be present and know that there were crews at the station, covering our area, responding to our calls—because she would NOT have been happy if we just failed calls for a day because of her. 

[missinghimalways]

Random Flashback

I just read a post where someone mentioned training in Oklahoma. I don't know why but when I read it, I thought of when I went to Oklahoma when my friend David graduated from Basic.

OMG! The actual day that they graduated and got to spend time with their families, most of the soldiers spent the day eating and at the mall. (There wasn't much to do there.) Anyway, of course all of the soldiers were in their Class A uniforms and it was pretty much their first time. They all looked so good and we're so proud of themselves (as they should have been).

While David's family (and I) were at the mall, I happened to glance over at David as we were waiting at a pretzel or ice cream stand (can't remember which) and asked the question that started a frickin frenzy! The poor boy was damn near hyperventilating. Here's the question I posed, "David, are you supposed to have a button right there?"

OMG! The answer was, "YES!" and it sent him immediately on a trail of re-walking his path he'd taken, searching every nook and cranny of every store, doing a full eye scan of every inch of the mall floor. David's uncle (retired serviceman) tried to tell him to calm down, that a button could be easily replaced, but I think by that time David had tuned the entire world out and had his tunnel vision on for that little gold button.

Oddly enough, the mall also contained a recruiting station (weird, right?) and we went there were the officers told him that there was a surplus store right outside of base and they'd be glad to get him another button. I can't even say David was relieved by that point...it's like he just couldn't focus on anything until he got his button back.

When we all loaded up in the car to go to the Army surplus, we found David's button right on the seat. He was finally relieved, but then started freaking out when he realized he didn't have the clasp to get it to stay on his uniform....he ended up getting that at the surplus.

LOL....I had a lot of fun in Oklahoma and that was by far one of the standout memories. Searching for a little gold button all around the mall....I don't know if he was scared/nervous about what would happen if he returned with his uniform missing a button or if he was upset about losing his button the first day he wore his Class A, but after the fact, it was definitely something to laugh about.