You gotta love these guys (& gals)! I absolutely am honored every time I attend of the FOOLS events up here in the sunny & hot Northwest.
Our FOOLS make us proud. They have such heart and they remember the flame that lit the spark that made them firefighters. But tonight I got to see that this esprit de corps is not limited to our guys in the Puget Sound. They are all cut of this cloth, and we are all the better for it.
I listened to the speeches and felt right at home. They all spoke of pride and professionalism, and honor and tradition ... and not a word of it felt rehearsed. They each spoke from the heart, whether they used notes or not. And even more dear to my heart, they all made sure to pay their respects to or troops.
I met some amazing heroes tonight. 
Not a one of them would claim the title ... as is the code of heroes.
But as we've said before, you might not know the exact definition of a hero, but you can never mistake one when you meet one. 
And trust me folks, this room met its quota.The Founders of the FOOLS were just as down to earth as any other man in the room. They shared memories and laughter, and just relaxed.
Unlike other events, when the members of the board, or the "higher ups" show up, and the room gets a little quiet. When the Founders were introduced there was loud applause and cheers for them.Guest speaker
Bobby Halton was one of the most enjoyable I've heard in a long time. He spoke passionately of tradition and reminded us all of its true meaning. He had us laughing and reflecting. It never got too heavy and he could have gone on for much longer with very few objections from the audience.Between the speeches and the great videos put together by Josh Materi, we were laughing, and then there was silence as the faces of Fallen firefighters lit the screen.
Bobby Halton paid a very fitting honor to the son of Seattle Firefighter Michael Washington, who was a United States Marine Sgt who was very recently killed in Iraq. Father and son shared more than a name, they were both Marines, both loved hanging around the firehouse, both have reputations as being good men, and both served their country in the desert, albeit years apart. It was warming to watch the faces of these firefighters from near and far. They didn't have to know Michael Jr., or Sr., they felt the loss. No matter where they are from, this was a member of their family, too.
Of course the pipes were always nearby, and we were treated to them several times throughout the night. The Honor Guard was there to post the colors. A perfect solo started the ceremony, and Julie (Chaplain & "Mom") from Riverside Fire said the invocation.
This was just Day One of a very busy couple of days for these folks. And hey, they must be special ... Even the Weather Gods love these guys -- You oughta see the weather report for the time they're here. Niiiice!
Welcome to Seattle, enjoy your time here. And thank you all to each of you who came up and spoke with me about the HeroToHero.US Troop Morale Campaign. Now remember to PLEDGE your support, the troops are counting on you!
Enjoy the photos, they're yours! (Click to enlarge the ones you want, then you can cut & paste them.)
lj
FOOLS, Puget Sound FOOLS, South West Washington FOOLS
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