The last stops of the tour. It is hard to describe the adrenalin rush that comes at this point of the tour. You're excited to make it this far, but so ready for it to be over.
The day goes by in a flash of smiles, pictures and memories that are all cataloged and able to be pulled up when a happy thought is needed.
As with the other stops, here are the pix ... the rest of the story will follow.
Thanks everyone ... For the memories
lj
Jerome, Idaho. Wow! I had not heard of Jerome before they sent us shirts for the troops. Now, I look forward to the next time I can visit.
These are some of the nicest people you can hope to meet. They are fun loving and hardworking, and I respect all of them for these values.
They had been watching the journal and were trying to figure out what they had to stack up against the alligator. I think they did just fine! Turns out one of their claims to fame, is being the only place in the country that has free, legal, base jumping.
They have a local guy, Mark Ripley, who jumps just about every day ... and as we held our breath, he took Stunt Bear on the fall of her life! And he returned her unmarked back to my arms. I cannot imagine how he does what he does, but it was one of the most thrilling things I have ever seen!
There will be more about Jerome, just wanted to get the photos up for you all to enjoy.
lj
It was grey, wet and cloudy as the tour proceeded through Montana. But every mile west, was a mile closer to home.
Bozeman met me with big smiles and open arms, and I thank them. I had gotten used to JeeNee taking all of the pix, now I had to try to find my way solo. I missed her, but knew she had done the right thing for her kids.
In the meantime, there were lots of new people to meet. Bozeman was a first time stop, but definitely worth a repeat visit! Need to go back for some better pictures! ( ;
Butte was a repeat stop. They are a more reserved visit. Or it was a quiet day ... probably the latter.
Stunt bear had had enough by this time and decided to check out, fortunately the guys were there to talk her down, and she is healing quite nicely. Still hear soft muttering about alligators, bridges, and spud guns. Go figure ... hehe
lj
What can ya say about Billings? We LOVE these guys!
BFD was the reason for the Stunt Bear. Last year one of the guys came up with the idea of shooting SHertz out of a potato gun. Well that wasn't gonna happen, but I promised when we came back that there would be a stunt bear available for whatever they came up with.
And so we returned, and the Stunt Bear served her purpose ... three times! lol
Budge made sure that she was patched back up.
We always have fun here ... this time was no exception!
More to follow.
**Note: This was the point where JeeNee left the tour. She had been missing her kids from the day we left, and her daughter was graduating the next day. She hopped the 6am flight out and was home in time to surprise her daughter just after lunch.
So, if the pix are not up to par beyond this point, it is my fault not hers!
lj
We started in Fargo and ended up in Bismarck. And before the day was over, a giant cow loomed on the horizon ... Or we really need to quit driving soooooon!
Enjoy the pix.
lj
So glad we decided to go back to the Minneapolis - St Paul area ... It was worth the effort!
Any time you get both sides of the house ... Fire & Police ... It's a great day!
We had been here once before, and met up with the St Paul FD but somehow missed Minneapolis.
Don't get me wrong, that was a really nice visit, there were lots of firefighters on hand and we left with several boxes of shirts. But, we did miss MFD.
So, last September when I met up with Mike, a member of the MFD Honor Guard at the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial in September, I gave him pure grief for standing us up. He looked at me like my hair was on fire ... Oh wait, umm, like I was out of my mind ... Nope, that one won't work either, dang! Anyway, he was shocked to hear that we had not made the hook up with them on the tour.
Well, suffice it to say, there is no doubt that we have plenty of support up in the twin cities! Our standard visit is one stop in each city, we hit nearly half a dozen in the greater MPLS -St Paul area!
From the first stop at the Minneapolis PD where we ticketed the cops, to another MPD stop to get even more cops on board ... And we were just getting started!
The media showed up for us. Thank you, Tom Aviles with WCCO-TV.
While we were at the second police stop, Minneapolis Fire pulled in and played with us for a bit. You can feel the great camaraderie between the forces there and we always love seeing that. Great senses of humor out there, and we were just beginning our day!
Part of our fun was following our hosts, June & Taylor ... Sheesh! lol We had a lot of ground to cover in little time, and they got us to our stops on time and in one piece, so no complaints here. But it is our journal so we reserve the right to pick on anyone we like! Seriously though, we want to thank them both for being so helpful to us, leading us in, setting us up in a nice hotel, and taking us to the Mall of the Americas, offloading the van for us, and just being outstanding support for the mission.
Finally we got to meet up with Mike and the guys at Station 4. They may be the most professional guys on call, but they also know how to have a good time for a good cause!
They did some fun photo ops with Sharen and stunt bear. And we got to meet Dom ... He's kind of a big deal. Honestlythough, they were all a lot of fun and very respectful of our efforts. Hope to catch up with some of them in Colorado Springs at the Memorial this year.
But our stops did not end here, June had an extra visit planned for us, a true heart stop. We headed on over to Fridley ... I think it's a direct translation from the word friendly. These folks were great! Both fire and police were there for us, and were so willing to play along and pose as we needed. Any Fridley Troops will love seeing this kind of support from their hometown.
After all of this, it was dinner at the Mall of the Americas ... Dang, that is a big mall! lol We were barely inside when we realized it was Sunday after 6pm and there would be very little we would actually see. Never the less, it was a lot of fun, and a great change of pace from the road.
Thank you all for the outstanding generosity, support and hospitality. Minnesota rocks!
**Now, start those shirt collections! We need all of you to step up for the Troops this year. The official drive begins September 11th ... But, you can start early!
Salute!
lj
There are some stops that just make ya smile. This day had two of them.
Milwaukee was a return visit, and a reminder that they make the absolute best lunches on the entire tour! Hey, that matters. ( ;
They also had the same sense of humor we remembered from last time. It is often the laughter that keeps us going strong when the road gets long.
La Crosse on the other hand was a first time visit. But this is a place we would go back to, without question. The entire town exuded family and friendship. La Crosse was so clean, and so welcoming. I would return on a family vacation!
If you do ever find yourself up this way, be sure to check out the home where we stayed, the future "Stately Inn". Special thanks to the Grave's family for their hospitality and warmth. We truly enjoyed this stay!
Thanks to La Crosse for their generosity, and their support of HeroToHero.US
More will follow ...
lj
What can we say? Three times to Chicago, three outstanding visits. It was good seeing some familiar faces from the last few years, and sad to hear of the loss of a good man whom I was honored to meet the first time around. God bless you, Joel.
These guys never fail to bring a smile ... check that ... outright laughter. And this far along the tour, laughter is a wonderful thing.
More later ... Enjoy the pix!
lj
Another great day. The people we ae meeting in the midwest all seem to have the same basic makeup ... They are all hardworking, hard playing, serious, yet warm and fun folks.
There is also a lot of pride in their communities, especially as it regards their commitments.
More to follow. But we would be very remiss if we did not thank Jay Bishop and his family for spending time with us and welcoming us into their home.
Another very special thank you to Mr Fears and his friendly, helpful staff at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield. Not only did we have a comfortable room, but a wonderful view of Springfield from our room. And ... The bellmen gave us great tips and advice, that was spot on as we continued our travels. If you're ever in Springfield, make your reservation at the Hilton. We will!
This was a very memorable stop. Thank you all!
lj
The tour was a wonderful success. So many incredible experiences, so much more to share.
I will continue to post the photos, then get all the accompanying messages up for each stop. ... In between naps, and a lot of rest for the next 2 weeks.
Thank you all so much for all of the love and support. This was unforgettable, and happily so.
And for the record, Stunt Bear did make it back home in one piece ... mostly.
Stay tuned.
lj
WHEELING~~ This was our very first visit to West Virginia. In fact, the first time either of us had been there. It is a beautiful part of the country with lush greenery, and really good people.
Wheeling is a picturesque town with old buildings, a really beautiful bridge and downtown, and an ornery sense of humor ... at least at the fire department. We got to be part of the tradition of soaking the rookies, which is great fun! Turns out the locals are very aware of the tradition, and they are all ready for it as the new guys stand proudly for photos in front of the firehouse while the old hands stand overhead with buckets of cold water.
And so it was that we got them to pose for us and got the action shots of the dousing as the business people across the street laughed and clapped. It was a blast ... of course we can say that, as we were nice and dry! Sorry guys, but thanks for being such great sports.
We stayed local to the station for the shots in Wheeling, but that was perfect as right across from them is a beautiful church with a high steeple from which they rescued ... and dropped & caught! ... Stunt Bear. And of course they set each other up, as one guy got blasted with the smoke and returned the favor by keeping that guy in the basket up in the air for a few extra seconds.
But I think the most favorite moment was when the Chief asked if we would take a special photo. He had the picture of his father and his son ... both in military uniform ... set up on the rear of the rig. He told us the history behind the pictures and we watched the pride in his face speaking of his father serving under General MacArthur. He explained that the uniform tie was not put on to look spiffy in the photo, but that the General expected his men to wear ties and look sharp at all times. Looks like he knew what he was talking about, the man looked great! And the Chief's son looked dashing in his Academy uniform. There is a history of service in this family, and indeed in this part of the country. The respect is apparent.
We thankand salute Wheeling. It was an honor spending this short time with you, and we would absolutely love to return and stay a lil longer as you requested!
**And remember, Chief, if your son deploys we want to adopt his unit and send shirts out to him and his fellow Troops!
And so we said so long and headed west to Columbus, Ohio. I had met firefighter Clem Thurm at the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial in September '05, and he asked right then if we would come visit them. Hey, how can you say no to the "Cleminator"?!? ( ;
As if this one contact wasn't enough, turned out that we had another connection to Columbus from a local source. One of the other efforts I do for the Troops is called Operation HeartStone ... www.PatrioticPastime.com Wherein I have made and given away about 60,000 small clay hearts to the Troops. (This has helped fund H2H) Well, it turns out that one of the women who have supported this part of the effort is Lynda Drygas, sister of Columbus City Council President Matt Habash ... A reallllllllly great guy!
So when we pulled in to Columbus, a little late after the water fun in Wheeling ... there was a wonderful representation from the Fire Department, City Council, and the local media! There are just some wonderful people out there! We were welcomed with a great meal, big smiles and lots of laughs.
We even got to meet "Captain Bill", he is a gentleman who comes in and spends time with the firefighters at the station, and they make part of their family. It is obvious he admires them all, and they make him feel very special while he is there with them.
There was a warm feel to this visit, and we were able to feel the pride in the city as it is growing. Matt was warm and welcoming and gracious and invited us to return to do it up right ... and we are more than interested! And we are pretty excited about the whole helicopter idea, buddy! ( ;
We do have one question that we can't answer, and are asked often, as y'all are in the photo album that we share everywhere ... "What's the deal with Top Gun?" No, we really want to know!
Clem, you were right. There are some pretty great people in Columbus! Thank you so much for inviting us (and I missed you in Colorado Springs this year).
Lynda & Matt, you rock! Thank you for supporting us, and being the people you are.
Hey Lynda, coffee? Starbucks ... on me! You have the number. ( ;
But the tour continued, and this was a three-stop day. So as the rain poured around us, we headed on to Cincinnati.
We pulled in to a smaller station just off the freeway and found one guy in house while the others were on a run. It was pretty quiet, and we aren't certain that this poor guy had any idea who we were or what we were doing, or for that matter, why were we there?! So we spread the banner out on the table, after we moved the Sudoku puzzles out of the way ... Oh and btw, thanks, I am now addicted to those danged things! lol
We weren't sure the rest of the guys would make it back before we had to hit the road once more ... but they did! So we got the banner signed, shared the photo album and learned 'em a thing or two about H2H. They were great sports and we got them outside for a couple quick shots before the sky unzipped once more!
Of course we did get "chastised" lightly for having never visited before, as Cincinnati Fire Department has the history of being The Nation's First Career Firefighters. Honestly guys, had we known ...
A question though, I wanted to learn a little more about y'all so I went to your site at http://www.cfdhistory.com/ and was looking at some of the photos and more. My question is, which house were we at? Is it in one of the photos? It didn't seem to be a new house, and seemed like there might be some history there. Would love to know.
No matter the answer, you guys were great, and we appreciate your hospitality. Ohio is pretty high on our list of favorite states, and some of the reasons are ... Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus & Cincinnati! You have represented very well that you support our Troops ... Now, let's see what you can do in the shirt department. We need your shirts by Valentine's Day, and we have proof that you are officially in the shirt drive! lol
We will hit the road again in May, hope to see some familiar faces out there next time around! The next tour is called the "Passport Tour", and the official stops will have foreign names, like Paris, Texas. So where are YOUR foreign cities in Ohio? We can still come see old friends, they will be our "heart stops".
We salute West Virginia, and Ohio ... YOU ARE WONDERFUL!
lj
Okay, it takes a while to get thru all of this and get the new stuff up, and I need to be spanked for delaying this long ... Having said that ...
DETROIT ~~ What a surprise they had for us here! We thought we would be doing a quick in & out, and only be speaking with one representative of the DFD ... WRONG!!!
Talk about class acts! We arrived on a beautiful sunny day, right around noon. Andre greeted us, got the van pulled in off the street, and we began showing him a bit of what had preceded this stop. We thought he was the "whole show" in Detroit, and we were fine just being there. But he stopped us and suggested we come upstairs and meet some folks and join them for lunch.
Bet our jaws dropped. Because the room was filled with firefighters from headquarters and beyond ... including the Chaplain, who is a hoot! (Love that guy!) And spread out on the big tables in the middle of the room were shirts ... Lots of shirts! Each had a letter attached with a message from the DFD. It was evident that they had really stepped up for the Troops ... and here we thought they were barely aware of our efforts! Sigh.
Even better, there were these little fire helmets that made JeeNee and I laugh because all we could think of was the "Mad Hatters" of St Louis!
The Chief was a crack up, posing for us in his office with Sharen and just being a great sport! They gave us a wonderful tour of the department, and you can see the evident pride in their history of the DFD and far they have come. It is quite impressive.
We had a wonderful lunch of chinese food, that they ordered in. And we loved the photo ops with this bunch. The Chaplain had us in stitches posing for his pictures! He was trying to look tough, but you could see that twinkle in his eyes! Listening to him speak of Heroes was something that has stayed with me. He is just a truly cool guy!
They even brought Sparky out and before you know it, lil Ms Sharen was flirting with him, and they drove off together into the bay. The guys did some real Detroit-Style pics for us on their rig outside, as cars drove by and ho and waved at them out there in the sunshine. Sadly, we had to say farewell too soon.
So we pulled Sharen away from Sparky, loaded up the van ... including a special shirt from their Chaplain to a military Chaplain, that will go out in the next shipment... and we were off to Toledo. Detroit ... YOU ROCK! And YES, we would very much love to come back and spend more time on a future tour!
TOLEDO ~~ We have been here every year so far on the the national tour, and every time they have opened the door and let us in ... gotta love that! lol
This has never been a big activity visit, but we always have a good time. This time it was unique in that for the most part it was the families of the firefighters who entertained us. The alarm went off, and the crew followed just as we had begun getting the BadA** shots. No worrries, when the Dads left, the kids stepped in and assumed the Attitude for us. We think they did a great job. The Moms were having fun watching the kids come up with new ideas for things to do with the bears ... and all we had to do was click, they had it all in control!
It's always nice for us to get to see kids on the road, it reminds us of home and getting hugs from the little ones is always a special time after being away so long. These kids obviously knew the station well, and were all about showing us how to do the cool stuff.
While we thought they were all special, there was a young lady, young Gabrielle, who touched our hearts with her quiet smile and beautiful eyes. You meet her right around picture #127. Wanna really be a HERO? Take the time to read about her and check out her website ...
"Gabrielle's Gems was started in October 2005 by Angie Segura to help
offset the medical expenses of her daughter Gabrielle's neurological
testing, physical therapy, and personal equipment needed. Fifty
percent of the profits are directed to a special account to help
Gabrielle live a happy and healthy life that is as close to normal as
possible. Your support for Gabrielle through Gabrielle's Gems is
greatly appreciated."
You can contact them at ... gabriellesgems@buckeye-express.com
Thank you Toledo, it was good to see you all again. And wonderful to meet your families. Take care of Gabrielle and our other young friends. We will see you again!
CLEVELAND ~~ WE LOVE CLEVELAND!!! Been there every year, and hope to see them every time we can! And every year, our Hero has been Mike Rosepal (& his wife Shelley). Mike was the first to open the door to me back on the first time around. He organized their shirt drive and sent us a lot of great shirts!
We've haven't seen a lot of Cleveland, just the firehouses & some pretty great firefighters, and that has worked out just perfectly. We have stayed with the Rosepal family and had meals with them ... SHE can cook!!! (We still want the recipe for the chicken.) And the kids & friends are fun, too. We've gotten our hair done, and been pampered here, so it's always fun!
We've visited a different firehouse each time we've gone to Cleveland, and kind of like the trend. Don't know how many houses they have there, but as long as they will have us, we'll go back!
So Mike get those shirts collected, we have more Troops who want them this year. And save us some ice cream ... can't remember the name of the stuff - feel free to let us know in the comments section, cuz that's some GOOD eatin'!
Thank you all ... Detroit, Toledo & Cleveland ... we salute you all!
lj
PS ... Sharen sends her best to Sparky, she still gets misty-eyed looking at their pictures. ( ;
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, Canada!
Where to start? From start to finish, this stop rocked!
Kevin McHarg was our host ... another connection to the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial from last year. He asked us to come to Sarnia and we were so intrigued with the idea of taking the program into Canada and getting some Troop support for the Canadian Troops who are out there in the sand with our Troops, that it only made sense. Besides, we were going to get to immerse ourselves in the Canadian language, eh? ( ;
And so we arrived at the McHarg home, greeted by some of the firefighters and their families.
Kevin had asked if we had any requests, and I mentioned a RCMP Mountie, to which he had a quick and ornery response ... something about us American tourists. But he said he would do what he could, and when we were shown our room there were maple candies and a postcard with a Mountie on each of our pillows. We loved their sense of humor, and got a good laugh out of it all.
Kevin was very attuned to our need for a down day, and gave us the first night to just relax, which was greatly appreciated. Of course he also warned us that the next day we would be busy ... and he did not lie! ( ;
So we started our day with a cup of Tim Horton's coffee, no Starbucks here, but no complaints either. And the stuff is quickly addicting, especially that frozen drink! lol
Anyhoo ... We were guided to the firehouse for our fi stop of the day. We knew there would be a press conference, but we had no idea what else was in store for us. And not how you say "WOW" in Canadian, but we need to learn it. Because these folks stepped up!
Firefighters, Police, Paramedics, Customs, Coast Guard, future firefighters from Lambton College, Canadian Troops, City Leaders, families, community members, media, and more ... including a no joke, for real Mountie (!!!) welcomed us to Sarnia. This was an unbelievable honor for us, one neither of us will ever forget!
We shook hands and started the event. At the podium, we listened to words that came right from the heart, and as we looked around the room after Firefighter/Troop Jason Bosker spoke with real emotion, his words catching in his throat as he looked out at the piles of shirts donated from all over for their Troops, we realized that they really "got it" here in Sarnia. I have no idea what I said in my "speech", I spoke from my heart as I looked at all that had been done on our behalf.
I do know that I presented a challenge coin to Kevin, and he understood the meaning of being given a coin. Our only wish is that we had a true HeroToHero.US coin to present him ... and the SFD!
They had a wonderful bbq going, and used it to raise funds to help us fund the tour, which was outstanding and very helpful! The food was absolutely perfect, and the rubs they used on the meats are something I will order when they start marketing in the states!
They also had fun playing with the Stunt Bear, doctoring her up and letting the Customs dog get up close & personal with her.
But we had to head out, and get over to Lambton College, where all of the students were standing in formation for our arrival, and made special presentations to us before letting us experience a sort of "day in the life of" event. We had a blast, and I got to play guinea pig for some of the antics for the camera.
Nothing was cooler than getting to take the nozzle and "put out the fire" at the tank ... like I knew what I was doing. These young men and women are outstanding, and you can see their drive for to prove their ability.
They geared me up and let me play, and all was well til it came time to go into the smoke filled trailer. Hey, I am nearly 50 years old, hot flashes are just a part of my life, so being in full bunker gear, adding a tank, and then the mask in the heat ... I quickly determined that this was one photo op I would eschew. If i went in, the pix would be of the rescue getting me out. And all I can say is firefighters do not make enough money for all they do! Ron, thank you for your time and effort on our behalf! We loved this stop!
Next stop, "Oz Fest" ... Actually, it was the Sarnia Police Department. Our host was Ozzie, who has become infamous as the man who shot Stunt Bear. He is a Range Safety Officer who gave JeeNee and I shooting lessons. We were about done when the photo op for Stunt Bear came up. Now, things get hazy here, and we didn't catch it all but, but the versions we've gotten have involved everything from Sasquatch, a mad beaver, and a crazed moose ... but the one constant is that Stunt Bear thought she was making a save and dove in front of one or the other and took the hit full on. Ozzie felt bad about it, and our firefighters took care of the medical concerns. Stunt Bear claims it was a flesh wound ... despite the exit wound on her back. We think she was showing off for Ozzie. And rumor has it she has invited him out for nachos, hmmmm ... This was a really fun stop, and the Chief was a lot of fun as well.
As if this weren't enough, we had one more stop for the day, the Flag Plaza. How cool to see America from Canada, from 105 feet in the air, in the basket of a ladder truck, to be specific.
When we raised up above the flag ... which they did a rush job to get in place before our visit ... and looked down at the intensely beautiful water, and Lake Huron, so many emotions filled us. The honor of all that was being done for us really filled our souls on this stop.
Standing with the members of the Rotary Club that had done so much work on the beautiful plaza was an honor in its own right. There is a lot of pride in Sarnia, and it is justified. Don;t get me wrong, I love America, but if I had to live in another country, I could easily see myself in Canada .. and Sarnia would be a great place to settle!
We ate hotdogs and fries at the water's edge, watching boats, and swimmers enjoying the water on a beautiful summer day.
This was one of our most memorable days on the tour. Just being in Canada was perfect. Oh, and something we noticed ... in the States, we are "too cool". It's like seeing the limo, we don't look, cuz you don't want to be "that guy" checking out who is in the limo. Once we started traveling north of the border we noticed more honks and waves at our van. We always felt welcome here.
We cannot thank the Heroes and citizens of Sarnia enough. This was an amazing visit. Thank you to everyone who had a part in making it all so perfect ... and there were an awful lot of you!
Oh, and thank you for the inspiration. We will explain this later! ( ;
We will see you again, eh?
lj
Helllllllllllloooooooooooo Bufflalo!
We were really happy to go back to Buffalo and see our buddy, Pete Margerum. He had been our POC last time around and stepped up once more to host us.
We showed up before he was able to get there and got to meet some of the guys. It was so sad ... we got there as they were cooking dinner, dang! lol It smelled soooooooo good! The only sad thing was that they got a call as they were making dinner and had to run, leaving us in charge of the kitchen. Not good! Luckily it was a quick call, or the real rescue may have been in the kitchen!
But Pete showed up and joined us for a seriously good meal. We loved seeing all of the pictures still up on the boards from our last visit, and info on the program up there as well. Nice touch!
After dinner it was decided that we would get a real tour of Buffalo. So we went on calls, and got to see a lot of things we would not have ordinarily seen. We saw the Erie Canal, and Lake Erie ... which is like seeing an ocean!!!
The best part was that Pete is really into the history of their home town. He was able to point out gargoyles on buildings, and give the story behind the story on many of the sights we saw.
We saw the old Grand Union Station which I;d have loved to have seen in its glory days, what an amazing building! So much potential, one can only hope they find a way to restore this grand dame.
Sadly, Buffalo has seen better days, and the older building tell that story clearly. There are parts of the city that tell the tale of changing industries and economics in some of our large cities.
Still there is a pride, and listening to Pete and the other firefighters, you have faith that they will turn some of the blighted areas around and restore the beauty that is underlying in many of these neighborhoods.
The gentlemen we met on this visit really brought us to the heart of the city and we left feeling we had learned so much more about this home town.
They offered us to stay at the station, but last year Kathy and I commented that we had come so close to Niagara Falls and missed it, that this time we would make a point of visiting there.
We were advised that the best overnite would be on the Canadian side and besides our next stop was in Canada, so off we went after warm farewells.
Thank you again to Pete and the firefighters of Buffalo, New York! You rock! We look forward to seeing you all again!
Niagara Falls was all we anticipated and more! We arrived at night with no reservation, and still found a room. This was a splurge for us, but by this time, we felt we had earned it.
The Falls were lit up in a pastel rainbow of lights , and I couldn't wait for JeeNee to see them from the room with the view that the hotel made available for us. We unloaded the van, and headed up to the room. There was a big window that overlooked the Falls, and as we opened the door I told JeeNee, this is a thank you for all of your hard work on the tour, go check it out. She walked to the window to find out that we had just checked in about 2 minutes after they turned off the lights and you could no longer see the Falls. We cracked up laughing, and decided to go for a walk. It was so cool that it was midnight and people were walking around as if it were broad daylight. We never felt unsafe and everyone was very friendly. Pssst, Kathy, you have to do this with me sometime, you'll love it!
This visit coincided with the failed terrorist attempt in Canada, a the next day while folks were friendly, we saw shades of post 9/11. There were more obvious glances, and you knew people were more aware of their surroundings and who was nearby. We had no problems and really enjoyed the visit ... not the 18 percent GST on our Starbucks coffees, but the rest of it was great! Besides, we were in Canada, eh? ( ;
lj
A very busy day! Boston before lunch, Framingham in the afternoon and Albany for our overnite.
This should have been 2 days, because we'd have loved to have had more time on these stops.
We came into Boston with the rain ... a tribute to our home state was what we claimed when we were chastised for bringing the rain in with us.
We caught them slightly off guard at Boston FD, but you'd never know it by the time we left. These guys were crack ups ... and most of them were of the white shirt breed. ( ;
We sat down with them as they had their lunch and shared stories and laughs. And George "in the cage" really stepped up for us, making sure that we left with lots of beautiful new shirts for the Troops. He also proudly shared his Troop pictures at his desk. Love seeing true support!
This was one of the stops that was home town for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed who asked that we make sure their home town knew they were there and thinking of home. We handed over the contact info and were assured they would take care of it. We have every reason to believe Boston takes care of their own!
This stop really was too short and next time we will make sure we have extra time. But on the plus side, turns out I will get to meet some of BFD Honor Guard at the Colorado Springs Memorial in September. Will get more pix, we need another bad ass shot of these guys!
We will return to Boston! And look forward to it!
Next stop was Framingham. This was one I looked forward to for a long time. I met Joe Mazzola last year at the memorial, and he promised that if we would visit Framingham they would really represent. I remember thinking, uh-huh, suuuure. But was more than pleasantly surprised to be so wrong!
WOW! FFD was amazing! We expected to see the pipers, and thought that would be the big surprise when we arrived, but nooooo! Joe out did himself!
We were met at the toll booth by the motorcycle escort that brought us in, as we came around a bend we noticed the National Guard Armory, and in the same glance it all hit us! OMIGOD!
On our left were the pipers, including Tim Birr from Tualatin Valley, Oregon ... Who had been unable to play for us at the PackOut and promised he would play for us in the future. And here he was in Mass!!! Joe's smile as he piped told us he knew he had really pulled off a great welcome!
Two ladder trucks held the flag up for us, the firefighters, medics, police, soldiers, and families were all there to bring us in. There was so much to take in, and the media covered it all. We really enjoyed the enthusiasm of all, including a new cop friend who made a generous donation to the effort! ( ;
Everyone was smiles and warmth, and this town we'd never visited before became a place to which we want to return!
We went inside to find even more, a great barbecue dinner and lots of fun. These folks were really creative, and all you need do is look at the pix they set up for the Stunt Bear to see what I am referring to! We has so much fun!
As if all of this were not enough, the Union chipped in and donated gas cards for us for the trip. At the time of the tour gas was hovering around $3 a gallon and this was a great help!
We LOVED Framingham. Joe, ya done good, buddy! Will see you guys in Col Sprgs. Can't wait. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
Framingham Fire escorted us out in classic style, and we kept those smiles for many miles ... In fact, just looking back as I write this i realize I have been smiling. GREAT town, GREAT people! (Did I mention that we really loved this stop?)
Next up was Albany, NY ... This was a first time visit for us, and we would be staying overnite in the fire house. Neither of us had been to Albany before, and were really impressed with the skyline as you drive in to town. Very unique, very distinctive, and very pretty. This is a town that we had very little prior knowledge of, but we both commented that it would be nice to see more of this one.
The guys at the station were a little quiet when we got there, but were great about helping us get settled. Not sure that they had gotten much heads up and were likely a little uncertain that, hey, we're here ... and, we're staying here. lol
In no time though, the van had been brought in from the dreary weather and secured in the bay. It was a quiet stay for us, and a little respite from the road.
We had so many pictures by this time and had done sooooo much in such a short period since the Memorial Day weekend that there was just no way to catch up on the journal. By this point we had kind of resigned ourselves to getting the photos up and going back, as I am now to fill in the story behind the photos.
This stop was really nice, there are some good cooks in this house, and they made sure we were taken care of. They had shirts out and the police were coming by and signing them during the stay. Because it was an overnite stop, we were able to meet two different shifts ... and that's always a plus for us.
By the time we got to the north east we had also come to the conclusion that the next tour would need to be longer. At this point we have figured out that we will need to make it at least 6 weeks on the road. Sounds like a long time, and it is. But it is so sad to see some of these Heroes,and these home towns, so briefly. When next we get to this part of the country we should have more time to see some of the beautiful/silly/fun things that the Troops think of when they think of their homes. And we will be more able to set the visits up to cater to that for them.
Thank you all for your hospitality. This was a wonderful day and a tough one to top!
SALUTE!
lj
New Haven brought us back to see Sgt Marty and some old friends in CT. And that was a good thing.
The day we arrived they were pretty involved and things had been tense for them. It was good to offer them a respite, and a chance to play a little bit before they got back to it. They are always consummate professionals, but also know how to do the personality side of the job. It's the old work hard, play hard theory.
Last time we visited it wa a no-notice stop in NHPD, but this time they brought us in, rolled out the banner and got it signed up as we did photos during roll call. It was fun to ticket the cops here. some of them were caught off guard, but all of them warmed right up and showed us the hospitality we expected from this great crew.
It's always fun to get to see the cops in a different light than is normally seen. We have the honor of being taken inside and seeing them while they are still laughing and enjoying the comraderie of the profession.
We watch them pick on each other, and support each other. Down here, the only tickets are the ones we pop on them, and these tickets make them laugh, so it's good all around.
And Sharen always brings smiles out of the toughest hombres out there! Don't know what it is about that lil bear, but when she comes out, everyone wants to pay their respects.
This is one of those stops that has asked for , deserves, and will get more time for the visit next time around.
New Haven is a great place and we really would love to see more of it! Thank you all.
Next up was another of our favorite repeat stops, Providence FD. Danny Rinaldi has taken care of us for 2 years now, making sure we have a safe place to stay ... right there in the firehouse. Danny has been a part of the calendar effort benefiting burn victims, He is a great chef and could make a living doing that as well. so we are always honored when he comes out for us. You can catch Danny on some of the cooking competitions on the food channel.
They always feed us great chow and let us ride along and it is always a time of laughter and fun in Providence.
Seeing Chris Brown (TheBravest.com) again was a bonus. He is a crack-up and all around good guy.
This time they asked if I had ever seen Providence in the past visits, but the reality is that on these stops you rarely get to see a lot of the local sites due to the short time we are local and the fact that these first responders are on duty. We spend as much time as possible with them, and get all the photo ops we can.
But when the offer was made to get out and see the city, we jumped at it. Especially when we found out we would be seeing it from the PFD HazMat rig!
One of our favorite memories will always be cruising through the college area as the sounds of Santana's "Oy Como Va" coursed through the speakers. It had a surreal quality. These guys have a solid, easy-going relationship with the community here, you can feel it. So many smiles and waves. And of course the ladies love the firefighters!
We left from the college area and headed on down to the Russian Submarine ... who knew?! It was pitch black out, and pouring rain, but the crew did all they could for our photo ops, shining the lights on it ... Until ... a new call and we were off. A roll over on the freeway.
We watched them up close and personal as they took control of the situation, treating and calming the teens in the car that had seen better days. There is a personal touch that shines in a true professional. We had seen a great example of it in Fairfax, VA., and again here in Providence. These kids were obviously shaken, but this crew was able to take control and relax all involved.
The night was just starting for these guys, there is not much down time around here from what we have seen. But, it was great getting to experience the small part we did. We got some great pix, and 2 big boxes of shirts that Danny had arranged for us.
The next morning, after a nice breakfast it was time for the media. This was one of the best stories done for H2H, and we credit the department for their support in making this happen. They made it possible for the news crew to really get <SPAN class=spell id=sp-33 title="Click here to replace with: tithe, teethe" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 2px; BACKGROUND-POSITION: left bottom; PADDING-LEFT: 2px; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://sdk.webmail.aol.com/sdk/20050527/images/bg_spellingErr.gif); PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; CURSOR: pointer; COLOR: black; PADDING-TOP: 2px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: repeat-x; BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow" _backupTitle="null"> feeling of the effort. And the reporter was very good about attention to detail. We truly appreciate that!
This firehouse is actually a dual facility, and the police are on the other side. The motorcycle (and stable) cops came over to play a bit, and took some great pix with us.
They informed us that we were going to get an escort out of Providence to send us on our way north. We weren't sure they would still do it when started raining before we it the road.
But the four of them donned bright yellow rain slickers, and led us out. we passed the city limit sign and expected to be waved off, but no. Then the state border approached and passed, and still they were with us. Six miles into Massachusetts they signaled us that we were going to fly solo once more, but we felt so buoyed by there support that we were ready for the next stops.
Providence, you shine! We are honored to visit, and we love learning more about your fair city with each return. Be safe, and please accept our condolences for the loss of Deputy Assistant Chief Michael J. Day.
We will see you again!
lj
For the record, yes, we saw Big Blue and snapped a quick picture from the freeway as we arrived in the city limits.
***Before we start here, we need a small disclaimer. There is concern that the Stunt Bear is being treated poorly. Hellllllllllooooo, this is what Stunt Bears do. They make sure that the "Star" doesn't get hurt, or messed up. Sharen is kinda high maintenance, and may follow her predecessor to a museum. Stunt Bear wants everyone to know that she is just fine, and is a highly trained professional. Kids, do NOT try these things at home ... Or anywhere else!
New YORK, NEW YORK!!!
We always think the last visit here is the best visit we will ever have until we get to this year's visit! Maaaaaan!
We stayed at Fort Wadsworth and checked out the sites for two days, courtesy of the USCG & the NYPD. We even had the same room as last year, in the barracks with the Troops.
This is where you feel how long you've been on the road ... Laundry can't be avoided anymore, and time is fit in to the schedule for personal & vehicle maintenance. We sleep in, and actually have 1 day that we can try to relax with no official visits ... Now, that's what we plan. But by now you should have an inkling that it is hard to plan a lot on this tour. You have to live it, not just plan it.
We didn't get in til really late after taking the delay to experience Gettysburg. So we got some good sleep, did laundry, then couldn't resist the call of the city. So we drove down to the pier. Did we mention it was Fleet Week? Uniforms everywhere!
First we had to convince the guards that we were okay. Personally we hoped they'd want to search the van, cuz it would've made a great photo op! lol
We got hooked up with NYPD and got the van inside the gate so we could get over to make a presentation to the Staten Island NYPD. We had another Honor Shirt.
This shirt was presented on behalf of the 54th MP CO out of Fort Lewis. This unit has been very supportive of H2H. Major Daniel has been wonderful! And it only seemed perfect to hook up the 54th MP's with NYPD.
They were very appreciative, and even some of the officers who absolutely do not like their photo taken, posed to show their respect for this gesture from our Army Troops. One of the officers gave up his 9/11 NYPD pin and placed it on Sharen.
We had fun ticketing them all and caught a couple off guard with that maneuver. As ever, they were gracious and warm, and we loved meeting each of them.
One of the female officers drove us over to the ferry and JeeNee got her first ride on the Staten Island Ferry and view of the Statue of Liberty. That is such a cool first.
And we stepped into the city and strolled the streets of the most amazing place!
Day 1 (& 2) found us at Ground Zero. We visited one of our favorites, 10 House. These poor guys can not even open the bay doors without getting swamped.
But they did open the doors, let us take pix, and were gracious as ever. They also showed us all around, and even took us up to the roof for a better view of Ground Zero. Sadly, in 3 years, there really is no progress.
The firefighters unveiled their own memorial, and let us know that there was another to be revealed shortly after our visit. Their hearts are obvious in this tribute inside the bay.
They also made our day when they pulled the 10 Truck out ... Twice! And we got to share the experience with 2 young Marines, and a couple of Sailors. It was so cool to see their faces when we asked them to climb up onto the rig for pix, and the firefighters let them raise the ladder. This is why we love these guys!
We also got back to our boys at 24/5 ... Much love & respect here. they were the first to open their door for us in FDNY and we see them every year. (We still have a gift from the Troops for them, but it just got to us, so we will get that out.)
We met another of the DiTrani Clan, this one with FDNY ... the other 3 are NYPD ... talk about a tradition of service! Mom & Dad must be proud. This time Stunt Bear got to play darts with to boys on Foster. She says they cheated. Sigh.
But we also got to spend time with the "Pirates of NYC"! The rides were unreal! This was the most fun we had in NYC. Banzai and the guys took great care of us, took us around, got us our first Nathan's hotdog, introduced us to the alligator, fed us, and kept us laughing. If you ever get the chance, you need to meet the Pirates! From the (ahem, lol) cheeky Chief, to the orneriest guys on the road, this stop was phenomenal! And it was our Tillamook Heroes that got us set up with them. Who knew?!
To Banzai, Chief D, and all the rest of our FDNYPD Heroes ... WE LOVE YOU! Thank you for making this stop so amazing We will see you next year!
lj
So, where were you on Memorial Day for the "moment of silence"? We were at the Gettysburg battlefields. And I highly recommend it! The community really gets into it all. The uniforms and parades, the speeches, picnics and of course, the Veterans. It all makes for a most patriotic experience.
I had no idea there were so many statues here. Thought it was like most of the other memorials you visit where there is a main display. But here, you can actually drive (for hours) through the actual battle grounds. You can see a miniature diorama, you can buy souvenirs, and get amazing pictures. And if you are a history buff, you could spend sooooooo much time experiencing it all!
One of the park rangers helped us out by driving us into the park beyond where we'd have gotten as they we about to close off the area for the parade. Thank you!
We got out before the parade, as we needed to get on to Philadelphia. But this was an unplanned stop that was perfect!
And so it was that we headed to Philly ...
For the record, this part of the country is beautiful most of the year, this was no exception. Rolling hills covered in green ... nothing better!
Then the city loomed before us. I've always liked Philadelphia. This is the city from which I departed as I joined the Air Force so so many years ago. This is where I would take my daughter on random weekends when she was little.
And this is where we would find some new friends at the Chinatown station of the Philadelphia FD.
And boy, you have to work to get in there if the door is closed. Sheesh! lol We knocked, knocked again, banged on the door, waved through the window and just refused to give up til they answered. Luckily it wasn't much longer because we'd have had to go get something at one of the Chinese restaurants that surround the house. That smell will get ya, ask JeeNee! ( ;
But, the door opened and they welcomed us in. Even better, they too have a realllllllly good cook and dinner was perfect!
We got lots of great pix, and a new addition to the patch collection. Mine is from the first tour and is one of the most asked about patches on that first tour coat. We had no idea there were so many Chinatown stations ... Could be a tour theme there. Hmmm ....
They brought out some shirts for us with little notice, and all of them signed the banner for the Troops.
We like this house and look forward to a future visit. Hope to see lots of PFD shirts this year! And yes, from the Medics too!
Thank you all for that Philly hospitality! Next time, we have to find the perfect Philly Cheese Steak .... Hey! Another tour theme! ( ;
Thanks for a fun stop! Happy Memorial Day! And be safe!
lj
Shanksville has been a stop for the past two years, but this time we actually made contact with some of the First Responders. And we are happy for the folks we met.
Terry and Rick repped for the department. And Terry's wife made sure we had a perfect picnic over the Memorial Day weekend. What a great family, and outstanding cook! (Still want that recipe for veggie pizza.)
The visit started on a very hot Memorial Day weekend. On the way up to Shanksville, we stopped as we passed an older cemetery with local towns people sitting on chairs and blankets waiting the ceremony to begin. School kids read essays about freedom, patriotism, pride, and heroes.
The Honor Guard sat nearby, ready for their part. Prayers were said while heads bowed. Flags fluttered on markers, and fans waved in futile attempts to cool the holders of each.
We stayed for a portion of the service, then quietly bid our adieu and headed on to Shanksville.
Pulling in to town, we could see the minor changes from prior visits. And made note of things we hadn't noticed before.
We found our way to the small station on a hill that marks the home of the Shanksville Fire Dept., alas, no one was there and we had real trouble with our phone signal up in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
At last, JeeNee got hold of the Chief's wife who told us he was unavailable, but she would get one of the other guys up to see us.
So, we tried to stay cool til Rick showed up. He was in a bit of a rush and wasn't real sure of what we needed. So we did the quickest presentation of the program that could be done. As we went along, he grasped more of what this effort was, and you could read that he wanted to stay and participate but he had other prior obligations.
We stopped him cold in his tracks when we presented the Honor Shirt from Fort Lewis' 25 BSB. That moment when they see the respect being paid from the Troops is priceless! Quite often there is silence, or a soft intake of air when the shirts unfold. This was no different.
Rick stood in silence, looking over the shirt, reading the written words from our soldiers. You could read so much on his face and in his eyes, and I was transported back to the Pentagon watching the Chief receive their shirt. In some locations, like the 9/11 sites, there is just a different feel. Deeper, more respectful.
Rick showed us some of the things they had been sent, from fire and law enforcement, and school children and more. But this would be their first real hands on presentation from the Troops as a whole. There was no denying the mutual respect from heroes to heroes.
We didn't want to hold him up any longer, so we said good bye and headed up to the memorial site.
I remember the first time we visited here. Not sure what we would find. Now I was curious to see what a difference a year would make for them. For the most part, it all seemed the same ... Except there were a lot more people visiting this time.
JeeNee took photos and listened to the presentation I had heard before. we checked for the HeartStone and bell we had left on the makeshift memorial wall. The bell was still there, and we left another HeartStone. We'll check back next year.
It is a quiet place, far out in the country, up in the rolling hills.
As we were speaking to folks asking what we were doing, and checking out the tour van, the phone rang. It was the Fire Chief of Shanksville FD. He had forgotten our visit was coming and felt very badly. He asked us to stay there so he could come visit us.
In a matter of minutes, Terry arrived at the memorial, and made us feel most welcomed. He came bearing shirts and a special gift to be presented back to the 25 BSB. (*We are still working this issue. Part ofthe 25th is still out, but due home soon. The rest are moving, so we want to make the presentation just right!)
As Terry was signing shirts for us, right on the hood of his vehicle, our phone rang again. This time it was Terry's wife. They were having a family picnic for Memorial Day, and we were invited. Of course we accepted!
It was like a piece of Americana stepping into their back yard. three generations joining together sharing dishes all had contributed. Even the heat had dissipated a tad, and a soft breeze cooled us down.
We had a wonderful meal, shared the obvious stories of their experiences and ours.
One of the cool things was this is a 3 generation firefighter family. Terry's dad has 44 yrs, Terry has been on for 22 years, and now the boys are following in their footsteps. This was one serious bad a** pic ... Check out Grandpa!
Another really special touch was that as we looked across the road we saw something that reminded us of home back here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest ... A Totem pole. After taking pix of it, we found out that it was presented by the Lummi Indians right here in our neck of the woods! In fact, Lummi Island FD is one of our favorite departments here!
We stayed as long as we dare, without throwing our schedule completely out of whack.
Terry placed a special Shanksville sticker on Sharen's helmet, and we promised to keep that spot for them annually.
So it was that we left Shanksville and headed on.
Thank you sooooooo much to the entire Shaffer family. We look forward to next year, and yes, we would be honored to accept your invitation to stay.
lj
Wow! What can we say about Fairfax County? They are amazing!!!
You might have wondered how this stop came to be, as they were not part of the tour route this year.
So, here's what happened. We we enroute and all was well. A few days in, we got a call from Denver FD alerting us that they had had an incident that involved a number of their firefighters and had incurred an LODD. It would not be appropriate to visit them and expect them to be willing to laugh and play. And so the decision was made to remove them this year and catch up in the future. Our thoughts and prayers stay with Denver and the families of all involved.
In the meantime, we received a call from Joel in Fairfax County asking if we would be willing to visit them. We explained the loss of a stop and the need to stay to our 55 city course. Joel assured us that they were willing to be our 55th city, and they would rep not only for Fairfax Co, but for their brothers in Denver. They more than stepped up.
Joel had been in constant contact with us, and we got to look forward to his calls. He always made us laugh!
Local 2068 set us up in a hotel for 2 nights, and we stayed in a firehouse the last night. It was a blast!
Aside from NYC, this was our most involved stop on the tour. Joel agreed that we would go ahead and do our DC stops, and the last day would be Fairfax Day ... It worked out perfectly.
But to be honest, the most dreaded words ever uttered on our tour was said during this stop. Hearing myself say "May I please have a 5am wake up call?" Eeeeew, still makes me shudder. C'mon, that's 2am back home!
To be fair, it was well worth the lost sleep. Joel gave us our itinerary. We knew that we'd visit the fire boat first. We'd done a fire boat in Maine once, so we were ready. But ... no one told us that we would actually be going out on the boat. This was so much fun! The whole area is gorgeous, and seeing the sites from the water gave us a whole new perspective. Note to self: Bring a hat when going to a boat. My hair was a laugh riot!
They gave us a beautiful framed photo of the boat, and shirts and hats for JeeNee and me. Then it was off to our first stop ... #9
What a great group! They popped a car wash on the van, and played along for the shirt off their back shots with a probie who was on his 1st day ... He'll remember us! Hehe By the time we left, all we could say was "They're so fine, our 409!"
Next was the big stop 11. As we pulled into the station, you could see 43 shirts on tables in the bay. As if that were not impressive enough, it was explained, every location did their part ~ they had 100% participation from the union on these shirts. That was a 1st for us, too!
The pix from this stop are a crack up! It was our 1st inkling of the catfight happening between Sharen and Stunt Bear. So sad.
Next was the Comm Ctr to visit 911 dispatch. Watching JeeNee with her headphones was fun. The dispatchers were full of info, explaining all we were hearing ... And they had snacks, gotta love that!
Our stop at 26 was hysterical when they decided on their photo op. watching Stunt Bear fly out of the foam nozzle on the crach truck was unreal! And man, can they cook!!! We had a great dinner with them.
16 started off slow and quiet, but don't let 'em fool you ,,, these guys may be the best kept secret in Fairfax! There are a few models on duty here!
40 is the newest station, isn't even open yet, but truly state of art. There were only 2 on site, but they still stepped up. We've been advised that this will be our home on future visits. Fairfax secured permanent visit status for H2h!
Fairfax was also where JeeNee had her 1st actual ride on a call. We had our turnouts ready for the alarm. We went to bed, the alarm rang and we jumped(!!!) out in record time. We were alone. Hmmm. The guys came out yawning and we're excited, but confused. C'mon! It's an alarm! Let's go! We pull out, and drive around to the back of the parking lot to the PD for a gent who had enjoyed his libations a tad much. Oh sigh. lol
A special salute to Local 2068, Chief Neuhard & the crews of 20/B, 9/B, 11/B, DPSC, 26/B, 16/B & 40/B & of course, Joel... You all rock, we'll see you next year!
Thank you all!
lj
