Please support one of our brothers in the fantastic cause!!! My name is Nick Smith and I am firefighter/paramedic for Monarch FPD. I will be proudly representing the Monarch Firefighters Community Outreach by participating in the 9/11 Stair Climb on September 7, 2014 in Clayton, MO. I will be climbing 110 flights of stairs (the number of floors that were in the WTC) in full bunker gear, helmet, SCBA and a hand tool (85+lbs and a heck of a lot of heat!). I am seeking to raise a minimum of $1,000 for this event and I need your help!! All proceeds will go to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation whose mission is to honor and remember Americas fallen fire heroes and to provide resources to assist their survivors in rebuilding their lives and work within the Fire Service Community to reduce firefighter deaths. One example of the type of activities the NFFF supports is a very special camp I was blessed to be a part of for children of fallen firefighters called The Comfort Zone Camp. The camp is a 3 day combination adventure and grief counseling camp to help children of all ages to learn to cope with their loss and transition their lives after losing a parent in the line of duty. The widows are given a very special weekend of relaxation and a dinner served by members of the surrounding fire districts in their Class A uniforms. It’s an amazing opportunity for the families of so many heroes. The cost for families to travel and participate is around $500/child. I am hoping to raise $1,000 so that all who donate can be responsible for at least 2 families being able to come to camp this year through donating to the NFFF! All 343 members of the climb will represent one of the fallen on 9/11. This year I will be climbing in honor of Chief Peter Ganci Jr. who was the highest ranking uniform officer in the FDNY at the time of the attacks on 9/11. From bravestmemorial.net, this is a little about Chief Ganci: Peter was a leader with modesty, he didn’t flaunt it. He was just a regular guy living with his family on Long Island, so at peace with himself that if you asked him what he did for a living, he would just say, I’m a fireman in the city.” “He never would say he was the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the department,” said Fire Marshal Steven Mosiello, his longtime friend and executive assistant. Chief Ganci’s son, Chris Ganci, was working in the private sector on 9/11/01. In 2005 Chris became a member of the FDNY, which was the same year I went into the service here in St. Louis. We are both members of the ‘Class of 9/11’, a group that proudly serves to honor those who went before them. Here is an excerpt from an interview with Chris about his father, Peter, which grabbed my attention. Ganci: In terms of the family aspect, I think that’s what a lot of people outside the fire department don’t really understand. It’s like a fabric, and that’s really what prolongs the history and the traditions of the job. So I knew a little bit of what to expect when I came here, I mean, I said I knew. But the truth is that I feel like there’s a level of expectation that I have to live up to, not only because I’m Pete Ganci’s kid, but also because I’m a firefighter in the Fire Department of New York. I thought I’d done a lot in my life, and I realized when I joined the fire department that I hadn’t done anything at all. These guys are legends, giants, and to live up to their expectations, their reputations, is difficult, but it’s something to strive for every single day.I just want to be the best fireman I can be, and to be a good example to the community. A good role model sometimes is important to people. I think that’s the simple model that my father was always drilling into me as a kid: Do the right thing. Chris and his brother, Peter Ganci III (also a member of FDNY), lost their father on that tragic day in the 2nd tower. As a son of a firefighter, I know the importance of family tradition in the fire service and I hope to do my best honor his memory by climbing on September 7, 2014. If you would like to be a part of honoring Chief Peter Ganci, Jr, please make a donation on my website: https://fundraising.active/fundraiser/NickSmith2
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 01:25:41 +0000
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