Firefighters have a tradition that...
Illustration
Firefighters have a tradition that when one of them dies, especially in the line of duty, not only that person's squad and department, but also firefighters from the region show up for the funeral, out of respect for the deceased and in support of the grieving family. But with so many fire-fighters' funerals in New York City following the terrorists attack of September 11, 2001, and with so many emergency personnel occupied on the disaster site, it put a strain to keep that tradition going. So the then Mayor Rudolph Giuliani put out a call for citizens to go to the fire-fighters' funeral, and many came. They didn't personally know the fallen firemen, but they came anyway. And somehow, their being there meant something to the family and squad. If nothing else, the citizens showed up to help the fire department do their mourning.
Like Jesus, when confronted with the grief of Mary and Martha, these citizens came to help the firefighters and the mourning families cry.
Like Jesus, when confronted with the grief of Mary and Martha, these citizens came to help the firefighters and the mourning families cry.
