Heroes

Hello All,

Over these past two weeks my heart has been so sad over the events in Surfside, Florida. I can hardly fathom the events of that fateful night when the building literally collapsed. The valiant rescues – the incredible work of the first responders, firefighters, emergency services, the police – the civilians who head a cry and helped a young boy. And since then, the around the clock work of the search and rescue teams, including the search and rescue dogs and cadaver dogs (from here in the United States and abroad) – the architects and engineers who have worked to be sure that all were safe as the responders searched the rubble literally by hand – the crane operators who have cautiously and with great precision reached into the rubble to create the next spaces to look. I have been impressed with the care and concern of the city’s leaders as they have supported the families and friends who have been waiting, praying and wondering,  and, as the days passed, slowly losing hope. And I watched as all of these incredible people stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a moment of silence as it was announced that search and rescue was now search and recovery – tears (including my own), prayers, hugs and the commitment to bring everyone out so the families and friend have closure. An entire group of heroes. Once again, this has given me such tremendous respect and appreciation for all first responders. They rush in when others rush out – no matter the danger, no matter the reason.

I must admit that it has heightened even more my respect and awe for all the team members involved in search and rescue. To watch them go into the depths of the debris field to figure out how to stabilize the structure so they could search, and to precisely move on top of the debris in order to search and not injure either people who were in the building or other search team members. To watch them reach in, handful of debris by handful, so they could be sure to gently uncover their findings. To watch them meticulously catalogue each personal item they found so it could eventually be returned to the family. To watch them pay respect to the dead, creating a human chain of deep regard for their fellow human beings. To watch them go back, day after day, to do this critical work was humbling and inspiring.

I know this has and will continue to take a huge emotional toll on each of them. From the first rush of adrenaline to the fear that has to exist about what they were walking in to. From the reality that they had to go slow to go fast and stay safe. From the initial optimism that people can be saved to the knowledge that with the passage of time and intense conditions, rescue was no longer feasible. To the firefighter who, while working to find other survivors, learned of the death of his own 7-year old daughter in this tragedy; he escorted his daughter off of the site, surrounded by his teammates.  For the internal and physical strength to carry on – for the personal commitment to each other and to the residents, their families and friends – for the efforts that go above and beyond, often beyond human limits – we are so very grateful.

I know our collective thoughts and prayers are with the survivors. Our deepest sympathies are with the families and friends who mourn. Our deepest and forever gratitude to the first responders and the teams of search and rescue/recovery for all they do.

Hercules said “A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.” There are HUGE hearts in our front line defenders and protectors. Thank you.

Phyl