Who do those Firemen think they are?

I was sitting in a local restaurant having a comfortable meal with my wife when we overheard a rather loud conversation at a nearby table.

Both of the men were complaining about the "self serving" Fire Department collecting money and interfering with traffic with their boot drive.

One comment heard repeatedly was "They think they are 'heros.'" Another was "they are collecting for their parties - they don't work a full work week."

Well, I decided to ask a fireman.

First of all, I have not heard any fireman claiming to be a hero. There are people in all walks of life who perform heroic acts. And, they are usually not public acts. This is as it should be. Now, about not working a full work week. I wonder how many of those folks have to work holidays, spend Christmas and Thanksgiving Days at a fire house or riding patrol while the rest of us are at home with our families? These are the men and women who don’t have the highest paying jobs in the world and occasionally have to put their lives on the line for us!

Yes, the firefighters get to sleep at their fire station, but they also put in 52 hours per week that they are away from home

The monies collected in the boot drive are not for the use of the firemen. This week they were collecting for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Next week they will be collecting for the benefit of burned children.

No monies are ever used for department parties. Or, for that matter, for any parties.

It is easy to criticize. But, we should always make sure of our facts first.

In Alpharetta we have an outstanding Public Safety Department which includes both Police and Fire. Both work closely with civilian volunteer organizations and both are the better for it. We can be proud of the public servants employed by the City of Alpharetta. And, I suspect the same can be said for Roswell, Sandy Springs, John's Creek and Milton.

Bruce Maynes

Alpharetta, GA