Final Pager Calls: Another Way to Honor Your Firefighting Family

Anyone blessed to spend time among the members of the Iowa Fire Service knows it's truly an extended family. Nowhere was this fact made more clear to me than in the aftermath of the sudden passing of my father, Gary D. Svenson in July 2005.

Dad had been a fire engineer (one of three who rotated 24-hours on, 48 hours off, drove first truck to city calls and warmed up the truck/gave directions on rural calls) for the City of Decorah from 1965 to his retirement in 1999. During that time, he was also Treasurer and proud member of the Decorah Volunteer Fire Department. He loved every moment and deeply appreciated those he came in contact with throughout his time with the Iowa Fire Service.

When Dad passed away, his firefighting brothers asked me if there was anything we needed or wanted for the funeral. When I was growing up, Dad often had me help him lower the flag to half staff at City Hall whenever a Veteran or fire fighter passed away. When we did so, we would talk about what that person's service meant and say thank-you prayers for them. I asked if they could fly the flag at half staff at City Hall the day of his funeral. They happily obliged.

I also asked if Engine 1 might lead the funeral processional as it had when my dear Aunt Sally Svenson had passed away eight years earlier. Dad had really liked that at her funeral. Again, they happily obliged.

I was overwhelmed at how much further the members of the Decorah Fire Department took our requests. As honorary pallbearers, our family never walked anywhere between the funeral home, church and cemetery where we weren't surrounded by members in dress whites. They all wore a narrow black band across their badges since "Gary wouldn't want them grieving too much." They were right!

These amazing human beings looked into getting Decorah's Old Engine 1 running from the junkyard where it sat in the hopes it would lead the funeral processional. The work needed was too substantial, but the gesture remains amazingly heartfelt.

It seemed like every fire truck in Winneshiek County was part of the funeral procession, which only seemed appropriate given how many times Dad had hid from those same trucks when they were spraying water during Nordic Fest parades.

As we turned the last corner before the cemetery, it was the site above that truly took my breath away and will be imprinted on my mind until the moment I leave this earth. Firefighter Darren Sander, who stood with the ariel, saluted the hearse and our family vehicles as we passed.

The icing on the cake came after the military salute had completed at the cemetery. With so many heroes in dress whites surrounding us, one last pager call for Gary D. Svenson came across their voice-activated pagers. Perfection doesn't even begin to describe the way the Decorah Fire Department honored their extended family member in his passing.

If you'd like to receive a digital audio copy of this wonderful way to honor your firefighting family, email me at dawnsh@gmail.com.

May the memory of the incredible heroes of the Iowa Fire Service always be alive among us!

The Extended Family of Firefighting

On July 19, 2005, Roger Hamilton and his family had scheduled a well-deserved and rare day off and out of town. In addition to the regular family schedule demands, Roger's time working for the Winneshiek County Hospital and volunteering for the Decorah Fire Department left precious little uninterrupted family time. Unfortunately, that day would be no exception.

As they prepared to leave, Roger heard the details of a 911 call come across his personal radio equipment that he simply could not ignore. The address and age details of an unresponsive man matched exactly with his firefighting brother, Gary Svenson. They'd shared many moments together over the years, including the moment pictured above at Gary's retirement celebration in 1998.

Roger worked directly on this call, as did another firefighting brother, Steve Vandebrink, was working the Winneshiek Medical Center Ambulance that day. They worked much longer than their training told them they needed to, just in case it could make a difference. The heart attack Gary suffered was fatal. If quality emergency response would have been the only predictor of fate that day, there's no doubt in my mind Gary Svenson would have lived to be 200 years old.

Roger, I could write for the rest of my life and not truly express what comfort it has brought me over the last four years to know how automatic your response was when you heard that call. It has also brought me great comfort to know two of Dad's firefighting brothers fought so valiantly to try to save him. I know you both wouldn't have it any other way. God bless you, Roger and Steve for being the selfless, giving, incredible human beings you are. You demonstrate the true heart of the extended family of firefighting.

The extended family of firefighting has thousands of stories just like Roger and Steve's. Please use the comment button to share yours. And make sure you send them the link. The pure heart of firefighting and the extended family it creates simply must be celebrated more.

Focusing on Your Old Engine 1's: Back to the Basics on Grants

Old Engine 1 at the Decorah Fire Department (DFD) was synonymous with DFD itself: an example of a focus on the basics. It met the needs of the small NE Iowa community it served for decades. My late father (pictured here) drove this engine as the first out on all city limit calls for nearly all of his 33 years as a fire engineer for the City of Decorah.

Even the most reliable equipment like Old Engine 1 eventually needs updating. The current maze of limited city budgets, lower available grant funds, as well as state and federal programs are at best a challenge to navigate for the most basic fire department equipment and supply needs. During these challenging times, it is all too easy to review available grant programs and try to find equipment, supplies or programs to "backfill" into grant parameters.

What does your department really need? What absolutely needs to happen in the next year, 3 years and 5 years to keep your department, your members, and your community adequately protected? The answers to those questions are the building blocks for getting back to the basics, your "Old Engine 1's."

The best thing Fire Departments can do for their members, the citizens and property they protect is to selectively apply for the grants that fit with their department's needs. It's perfectly acceptable to NOT apply for grants that don't fit with your department's strategic plan and/or current community protection needs. In getting back to the basics, your "Old Engine 1's," you will be more sucessful in the grants for which you do apply.

To discuss options for grant focus for your department, contact FlashPoint Fundraising President Dawn Svenson Holland today.