Submitted by Richard L. Bucher, Chesterfield Fire & EMS
Huge American flags hung between pairs of aerial ladders on Seventh Street in Washington D.C. Between these flags were signs with the names of the fifty states and the District of Columbia atop eight-foot poles. There were several signs to a block on both sides of the street, and beneath these signs rallied men and women, most in blue uniforms. They were proud of the state they represented, some because of the great distance away, and some because of the great turnout from their state. All were proud to be members of the United States Fire Service.
We had gathered to pay respect to our brothers and sisters that had fallen during 2001. Traditionally, when you give your all you are titled a hero. Many we honored were also given a more contemporary title for United States firefighters; ‘Domestic Defenders.’ They had given their lives saving Americans that were under attack. Firefighters have been moved to the front lines as the front lines have moved to the home front. What made this procession so special was the bus loads of surviving families. They are the ones not distracted by world events from their loss, the ones that think of their loss before they rise in the morning, during the long lonely day, and as they try to sleep at night.
As the clusters of firefighters became columns lining the street two and three deep, units from New York City, Arlington County, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania drove down the street to the beat of bagpipes and drums.
The buses with the families followed next. It was so moving standing there at attention while the families expressed their gratitude for our presence. These parents, wives, children, and siblings who continue to give so much were our thanks. Some waved, some blew kisses, some gave us the thumbs up. Many held up photos of their lost loved ones up in the bus windows for us to see. I interpreted this as ‘don’t forget Greg, Jonathan or Ray or the others. Please don’t ever forget.’ We won’t ever forget. I will always remember the blond headed five-year old holding up his dad’s picture in turnout gear for all the world to see. I remember the NYPD patch on an officer’s shoulder pressed up to the bus window symbolizing that our brothers in FDNY had brothers too.
No longer were we clusters from different states but we were, and still are, the proud brotherhood of firefighters. Although, we never met most of those who had given their lives, we knew them all. They were just like us balancing job and family on the ever-moving scales of life. We knew these families on the buses also. They were just like ours, the same joys and stress, but for them this burden is the struggle of a lifetime. We all thought how easy it could be for our families to be on the buses next years.
I imagined Lee Ielpi (FDNY Retired) on one of the buses. I don’t know Lee personally, but I remember someone speaking at FDIC about how determined he was to find his son Jonathan, and bring him home. How he showed up every day to search for him in the pit like many other firefighter dads. When I got home I located Jonathan’s photo on the New York Times photo list of those lost, putting a face with the name personalized him. I got to know a little more about Lee through the pages of Dennis Smith’s Book Report from Ground Zero. Lee Ielpi is the kind of dad most firefighters would like to have. He showed his love through his actions, devotion, and commitment.
Inside the MCI center the blue lines of firefighters filed into what Bill Manning repeatedly called the Sea of Blue. As the names of the fallen were read their families would stand. The Ielpi’s were well represented, although I could not make out Lee in the distance. I would like to have met him and told him how much of an inspiration he is to those of us surviving in the service.
The sea of blue was united. The spirits of the fallen were present begging us to never, ever forget. Bill Manning described it as ‘our hearts beating as one, this great Sea of Blue.’ Our lives too were changed by the events of 2001. No, we will never forget those that paid the price of that change. Bill was right; we choose the firefighter’s life. It does not end with active service; just ask Lee Ielpi
Rick Bucher is a 29 year veteran with Chesterfield Fire & EMS. He is a Senior Battalion Chief on B Shift. He has a B.S. from University of Maryland and has completed Executive Fire Officer Program at National Fire Academy.
