In Praise of Firefighters Past, Present and Future

With the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy upon us, bringing back to life the incredible suffering it caused and the remarkable service our nation’s police and firefighters provided, I am prompted to share some thoughts. A recent news article about Jim Vercruysse, who’s taking over as chief of the Aquinnah volunteer fire department from Walter Delaney, struck a very deep emotional chord in me. It’s a vivid reminder of firefighters and the sacrifices they are willing to make for our well-being, and a reminder of those my father and grandfather made in particular.