British tribute to US firefighters (WE STILL GRIEVE WITH YOU, AMERICA)

Firefighters from across the UK have gathered in London for a service to honour their American counterparts who died in the New York terror attacks last month.

More than 300 New York firefighters were killed as they tried to save workers trapped in the World Trade Center after two airliners crashed into them on 11 September.

Every fire brigade in the country was represented at the memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in central London.

He said: "They were victims of a malevolent evil that threatens the whole world, a threat that puts the emergency services into the front line.

"In their moment of challenge they did not flinch, they did not flee, they did not fail."

The service was organised by the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association.

Its chairman, Richard Bull, said British firefighters had been deeply affected by the tragedy.

"Firefighters in the UK have a great affinity for their colleagues in New York and since the disaster have been raising money to help the dependants of those who lost their lives.

Andy Pike of the London Fire Brigade said firefighters were part of a "brotherhood" which was a "unique club".

Many London firefighters had spent time in the US with their New York counterparts, he said.

"The pain the firefighters in New York are feeling is the same pain we're feeling here," Mr Pike told the BBC.

Members of the United States Marine Corps also took part, carrying the US flag while members of the London Fire Brigade carried the Union Jack.

I know personally that the Fulham Fire Brigade (in London) is still raising money for the families of the firemen who perished. I really can't add much more except to say, the bond is still strong - we are family, and as we stand together to fight, we grieve on both sides of the Atlantic for the lost.

Best Regards, Ivan

But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."

Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice: "Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be." - Winston Churchill, 1940

This then, my lords and gentlemen, is the message which we send forth today to all states and nations, bound or free, to all the men in all the lands who care for freedom's cause. To our Allies and well-wishers in Europe, to our American friends and helpers drawing ever closer in their might across the ocean, this is the message-lift up your hearts, all will come right. Out of depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind. - Winston Churchill, 1941

"What kind of a people do they think we are? Is it possible that they do not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they and the world will never forget?" - Winston Churchill, 1941

LET US GO FORWARD TOGETHER - CLICK ABOVE!

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A FIREFIGHTER'S GLOVES

A Firefighters Gloves hold many things
From elderly arms to a kids broken swing
From the hands they shake and the backs they pat
To the tiny claw marks of another treed cat
At 2 am they are filled with the chrome
From the DWI who was on her way home
And the equipment they use to roll back the dash
From a family of 6 she involved in the crash

The brush rakes in spring wear the palms out
When the wind does a "90" to fill them with doubt
The thumb of the glove wipes the sweat from the brow
Of the face of a firefighter who mutters "What now"

They hold inch and three quarters flowing one seventy five
So the ones going in, come back out alive
When the regulator goes; then there isn't too much,
But the bypass valve they eagerly clutch

The rescue equipment, the ropes, the C-collars;
The lives that they save never measured in dollars
Are the obvious things firefighters gloves hold
Or, so that is what I've been always told

But there are other things Firefighters Gloves touch
Those are the things we all need so much

They hold back the rage on that 3 am call
They hold in the fear when your lost in a hall
They hold back the pity, agony, sorrow
They hold in the desire to "Do it tomorrow"

A gloves just a glove till it's on firefighters
Who work all day long just to pull an all-nighter
And into the fray they charge without fear
At the sound of a "Help" they think that they hear

When firefighters hands go into the glove
It's a firefighter who always fills it with love
Sometimes the sorrow is too much to bear
And it seeps the glove and burns deep "in there"

Off comes the gloves when the call is done
And into the pocket until the next run
The hands become lonely and cold for a bit
And shake just a little thinking of it

And they sit there so red eyed with their gloves in their coats
The tears come so fast that the furniture floats
They're not so brave now; their hands they can't hide
I guess it just means that they're human inside

And though some are paid and others are not
The gloves feel the same when it's cold or it's hot
To someone you're helping to just get along
When you fill them with love, you always feel strong

And so when I go on my final big ride
I hope to have my gloves by my side
To show to St. Peter at that heavenly gate
Cause as everyone knows, firefighters don't wait.

Thank God.

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