National Law Enforcement & Fire Memorial Day

[Sparky]

Isn't it about time that LEOs and Firemen had their own memorial day?

Since our ranks suffered such a great loss on 9/11, and since this incident served to remind the public of the sacrifice that so many of us are ready to make to protect others, and since 9/11 does so closely resemble the univeral phone number for emergency services (9-1-1)...


Then why don't we make September 11 National Law Enforcement and Fire Memorial Day? A real holiday where people get off work and everything!

Is it time to write our representatives and the greeting card companies?

Let's get to work on it folks! It's time!

[ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: Sparky ]

[Don]

I think this is a heck of a good idea!

California has a memorial week for fallen LE officers, but I don't know if any other states do this or not.

[Z28CBR]

National Police Week is May 13-May 17. Services are in Washington D.C. Officer's Memorial Day services are on the 15 of May. Remember our fallen Brothers, light a candle and wear your mourning bands.

[Sparky]

Yes, I'm aware of National Police Week and the "observance" of a memorial day.

What I'm proposing is that the Memorial Day be an Official Holiday. You know, where the banks are closed and everything. And if we're going to make it an official holiday, I'd like to change the date to 9/11 and include Fire/EMS.

Am I missing something? Is there some, possibly more significant, event that occurred during the week of May 13-17 that I am unaware of?

No.

Those dates were probably chosen rather arbitrarily. Who picked those dates? I didn't pick those dates. I don't remember voting for any dates.

If we're going to have a memorial day, I say let's have it on a day that should be commemorated. I can't imagine a better one than 9/11.

Anybody else with me besides Don? If we're going to drive across the country spreading the news, we're going to need more than one driver.

C'mon... can't you see it now?

9/11 National Law Enforcement and Fire Memorial Day

Notice. This bank will be closed for Nat'l Law Enf. and Fire Memorial Day on 9/11

Who's with me? Let's ride!

[ice_fog]

Originally posted by Sparky:
Notice. This bank will be closed for Nat'l Law Enf. and Fire Memorial Day on 9/11

That has a nice ring to it. I think that that is a great idea

[Snoopy1]

Great idea, Sparky. I have often wondered if 9/11 was chosen as the date for the attack because 9-1-1 is an emergency number. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but we will probably never really know.

As far as I am concerned, you guys earned a day of your own long before 9/11. I hope it happens soon.

[Mr.Orange]

I'm for a national day of observance on 9/11, for all the people who lost their lives. Not just for emergency personnel.

As for changing the format or oberservations in May for Law Enforcement, I disagree. I for one, don't want the firefighters lumped in with Leo's. We have two different jobs, completely different qualifications for hiring purposes, and it shouldn't be tinkered with. Also, I strongly doubt that the majority of Leo's would be in favor. JMO.

[ 02-19-2002: Message edited by: Mr.Orange ]

[H8Criminals]

I'm with Mr Orange ... September 11th is a day for everyone, not just the emergency personnel who lost their lives. There were secretaries, office workers, janitorial staff, general Maint. workers, delivery personnel, kitchen workers, food service preps etc ... I don't know why that specific week in May was chosen, but I'm sure there is a reason. Although I am on the west coast, I would one day like to get back east to work that event with my fellow officers, as our department is one of the primary sponsors ... I like the idea of having a national holiday to remember those lost, but, we should also look in to having one to remember the people lost in the Oklahoma City bombing as well ... that too was a terrorist act ... just an internal one.

[Sparky]

Mr. Orange: yes, we do have different jobs. So do patrolmen and detectives and jailers and K-9 handlers. The Air Force has a different job than the Marines, but there's only one Veterans Day.

I see no good reason not to include Fire and EMS. We are all folks who run TO the trouble, and we are all folks who end up in harms way because of it.

The only difference between fire and police is they think we're nuts for getting shot at; and we think they are nuts for running into burning buildings.

H8Criminals: Yes. We should remember the innocent victims from 9/11 as well as OK City, but if we're going to remember innocent victims, then I would want to find a way to include them all. What about all of the other murder victims?

The events of 9/11 were so terrible, that I would agree to give them a special day. It was an attack on our entire country.

But I see no reason why it can't coincide with an offical holiday to especially remember those that went in to help the victims, at great risk to their own safety, who then lost their lives.

I don't mean to sound callous. I care very deeply for victims. My job is to work for them and I take their needs very seriously. I've spent most of my adult life working to protect the public. As an investigator, I work closely with victims of violent crime and thier loved ones. I view my ultimate responsibilty to be to those victims.

But I hold a extra-special place in my heart for the cops and firemen and ems folks who aren't victims by happenstance, but rather because they put themselves in harms way to help others.

I hold a special place in my heart for the fire and ems guys who I know won't wait for a "secure scene" when it is an officer that is down.

I feel every sympathy for victims and their families, but I know that fireman will run into my burning house to save my kids.

Not to lessen the loss of other victims, but I gotta be honest and say that I look at other cops and firemen and ems workers as heros. That's why I wanted to grow up and be a cop.. and it's why I enjoy my job. I get to work with great people.

[Mr.Orange]

All I'm saying is that I don't want to get rid of the National Law Enforcement Memorial that is held in May to join or be grouped together with other emergency personnel. Its that simple, and again, I know I am not alone in how I or other feels about this.

[QUOTE] The only difference between fire and police is they think we're nuts for getting shot at; and we think they are nuts for running into burning buildings.[QUOTE]

I disagree that thats the only difference between the two occupations. Unfortunately, in the state where I work, there are many fireman with misdemeanor convictions and some felony convictions. I don't or I am not aware of anyone with a conviction of any kind in the Department where I work (close to 200 officers). I can't say that for the local F.D. That doesn't mean I think they're all convicts, I just feel that we are held to a much higher standards, and therefore I rather keep things the way they are.

[Sparky]

Mr. Orange: "I don't want to get rid of the National Law Enforcement Memorial that is held in May to join or be grouped together with other emergency personnel."

I agree that it is nice that we currently have a whole week. However, I'm also sure than inthe span of time of a whole week, we can find room to remember fire and ems worers, too.

"Unfortunately, in the state where I work, there are many fireman with misdemeanor convictions and some felony convictions...we are held to a much higher standards, and therefore I rather keep things the way they are."

Well, I could say the same about some police departments regarding misdemenaor convictions. And I know more than one Sheriff who is a convicted felon.

Fire/EMS are held to a different standard, to be sure. Although I am not sure that it is a higher standard. Perhaps in the area of criminal backgrounds, yes. However, most fire dept.s I know hold their folks to a much higher PT standard than police department's hold cops. You say patatoe, I say potatoe... (that doesn't work in print, does it?)

Basically, I understand that you would be against a combined LE/Fire/EMS Memorial day because you feel LE deserves it's own day. Also, you wouldn't want to change from the week in May that we currently have.

On the first part, realistically speaking, I don't think we have a snowball's chance in West Texas of getting a LE only Official Holiday. Our chances are much better if Fire/EMS are included.

On the scond part, okay, let's keep it in May. I thought it would be nice to have the 9/11 because of 9-1-1 and also to commemorate the LE/Fire/EMS personell who lost thier lives helping others at the WTC. Undoubtable the single largest loss of life to emergency personnel in a single incident.

There's alot of wiggle room on this one folks, but I am dead serious about ths being an official paid holiday.

We can change the date.

We can include other services or not.

But let's get an official paid holiday.

Any other suggestions? We've got two on the table.

[Mr.Orange]

Sparky, if someone wants to make 9-1-1-an official holiday, I wouldn't be against it. I also agree that we would have to be grouped in with other emergency personnel, in order to do so. I would just like to keep things as they are in May the same though.

Now to discuss a few other things that you posted in your latest thread.

Sparky

Fire/EMS are held to a different standard, to be sure. Although I am not sure that it is a higher standard. Perhaps in the area of criminal backgrounds, yes. However, most fire dept.s I know hold their folks to a much higher PT standard than police department's hold cops. You say patatoe, I say potatoe... (that doesn't work in print, does it?)

I agree that they might be held to a higher PT standard than us, and also might be in better shape than most LEO's. But... They can work out on duty, they have have more free time to do so, and to not take advantage of it would be pure laziness on their part. Though, if Leo's had the same opportunity, at least a third of them probably wouldn't take advantage of it (working out). I'm for physical standards testing, unfortunately, its not a requirement were I work.

Mr.Orange

Unfortunately, in the state where I work, there are many fireman with misdemeanor convictions and some felony convictions.

Sparky

Well, I could say the same about some police departments regarding misdemenaor convictions. And I know more than one Sheriff who is a convicted felon.

I agree that there are police departments where officers have been convicted on misdemeanors, as for anyone still holding a job with a felony conviction, JMO, he or she should be termminated. There are quite a few officers in my opinion who shouldn't be wearing a uniform. There are those intent just on earning a paycheck, but dont want to work for it. In Massachusetts, you can make some serious $$$, if you want to work overtime and details. If you dont want to have a life, you can make $100K and more. Man this is a rant

Thanks for the discussion Sparky, at least we kept it civil.

[Sparky]

$100k/year!?!? Any openings? Wow!

I wouldn't want to totally get rid of Memorial Week, don't get me wrong.

But I really think there should be a real bona fide holiday on this. There's got to be a way to make it happen.

I bet if we get the greeting card companies on it we'll see some action!

[cajuncop]

Luckily there is a local church group in our area that thinks the same way as a lot of us.

Each year for the last eight, a local church sponsors an event called, "Back the Badge". They invite all local law enforcement and fire, including family to take part in a service to honor everyone that wears the badge.

They ask for those who wear a badge to be in uniform so people in the community can honor them.

I've decided that this year I'm gonna attend, especially since I agree that we don't get much praise, and it's about time that we should.

[Snoopy1]

How about a holiday on Monday or Friday of National Police Week?

Firemen could have a similar day in perhaps October so no one would feel they were sharing their day.

While those who died on 9/11 are uppermost in our minds, there are those who sacrifice their lives the remainder of the year. They should not be forgotten.