|
A time to begin healing
Thank you to all
The past couple of weeks have been very difficult and taxing on Los Angeles County Fire Fighters, and certainly have hit very hard for the Woyjeck Family...our family. There will be no easy way to climb back up, and no way to get rid of the pain, the hurt and the sorrow we feel and faster or slower than we all heal, but rest assured, we will heal and we will move forward and so too will the Woyjeck family...with our continued support and love.
We will take time to gather the stories and the remarkable events of our Brotherhood and Sisterhood from the LA County Fire Fighters and all public safety and family members who came together to help Joe and Anna and their family. An incredible outpooring of LA County Fire Family Members, Family Members, Neighbors, Prescott and surrounding area FF's to include the US Forest Service, Hotshot Crews, Yavapai area FF's and Phoenix Firefighters and the IAFF with huge support and help of the Unions, the Fire Chiefs and the 100 Club Phoenix Chapter and the Salvation Army to name a few and I will miss some but this applies to all....Thank you.
Without all partners, green pants and blue pants, Labor and Management, working in concert we could not have accomplished what we did in such a short period of time to do right by these young men and their families in their time of need.
In our Local I would like to particularly thank the Local Membership for your funds and your heart and soul which we quickly put into action in a seamless marriage with the Department to put the Memorial Management Team and an ICS Team in place to get things done, and get things done we did. I must thank the Fire Chief, Daryl Osby and the Board of Supervisors particularly Don Knabe and the Knabe Family for jumping in head first without hesitation to move mountains to get it done. In addition to the LA Teams which included Explorers, Rank and File Fire Fighters and Fire Personnel of all Rank, Civilian Fire Personnel, Honor Guard Members, IMT Team Members, Stations, Chaplains, Union Board Members, Members of the Armed Forces including the Patriot Guards, and Citizens who donated, we also sent a team of 12 CISM Team Members to Prescott to work with Phoenix Fire Fighters to take care of the health of all folks impacted by the incident.
The team took care of the families, the Prescott and surrounding area firefighters, the secretaries, the land owners, the cops, the IMT Members, and more to ensure we did not forget them as we get our work done. We also had the same structure in place here as well for LA. In short, we took on a role both here in LA and in Prescott that will forever marry us to them, and this tragic event. We should all be proud of our efforts and stand ready to take a breather and then remember....NEVER FORGET... and start to heal. Tell the great stories of Kevin Woyjeck in particular...a man who accomplished much and lived as the Granite Mountain Hotshots - Crew 7 trained to live....
ESSE QUAM VIDERI - TO BE, RATHER THAN TO SEEM TO BE
Let us remember the fallen 19, and the "Donut" the 20th member of the Crew that we thank God for leaving with us, he needs us too.
In solidarity,
Dave Gillotte, President
Los Angeles County Fire Fighters
IAFF Local 1014
NOTE: WE HAVE ATTACHED SERVICE INFORMATION FOR BROTHERS GRANT MC KEE AND ROBERT CALDWELL WHO WILL BE LAID TO REST LODD IN NEWPORT BEACH ON SATURDAY JUKY 20....PLEASE ATTEND IF YOU CAN MAKE IT.
|
|
|
Memorial Service for Fallen Arizona Hotshot Firefighters Grant McKee and Robert Caldwell
|
URGENT REQUEST FOR HONOR GUARDS
Grant McKee 21 (at left in photo), and Robert Caldwell, 23, were among the 19 Prescott, AZ. who lost their lives June 30th battling the Yarnell Hill Fire.
Both Grant and Robert have California roots -- Grant was a member of Robert's wedding party less than a year ago.
Both will be honored on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:00am.
URGENT HONOR GUARD CALL: PLEASE SEE INFORMATION BELOW FOR RSVP AND PRACTICE
Grant was training to be an emergency medical technician and also worked alongside his cousin, fellow Hotshot Robert Caldwell. Robert was with the Hotshots for two years and leaves behind his wife and stepson. Grant was newly engaged.
Memorial Services
A Memorial Service for Grant McKee and Robert Caldwell, two of the Fallen Firefighters of the Granite Mountain Hot Shot Crew, will be held Saturday, July 20, at St Andrews Presbyterian Church: 600 St Andrews Rd. , Newport Beach, CA.
Ceremony will start at 11am.
The California Fire Foundation's Last Alarm Service Team (Cal LAST) has been mobilized to assist with the service and is coordinating the honor guards.
The California Fire Foundation has joined with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to provide comprehensive local assistance when a firefighter falls in the line of duty.
Honor Guard Call
All departmental and local union honor guards are invited to participate in the Saturday ceremony.
PLEASE RSVP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO CAL LAST IC Thomas Jay, Cell Phone: 951-515-2194; Email: socal_last@cpf.org.
Mandatory Honor Guard Practice: Two mandatory practices will be held. The first practice will be held Friday, July 19, 2013 at 1pm (1300 hours) and the second practice will be held Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 8am. Both practices will be at the St Andrews Presbyterian Church (600 St Andrews Rd., Newport Beach, CA).
Honor Guard personnel are to bring Class A uniforms to change into and bring all of your flags, poles, harnesses, tools and pike poles. Please try to make the practice, to make the ceremony special for the families.
Uniformed Personnel
All uniformed personnel are invited to participate in the ceremony and uniformed firefighter procession. Class A uniforms requested.
Briefing for the uniformed firefighter procession will be at 10:30am at St Andrews Presbyterian Church (600 St Andrews Rd., Newport Beach, CA).
Please RSVP ASAP to Rob Gagne with Costa Mesa Firefighters -- gagne@cmfd.com; (949) 355-8085. Please indicate a head count and advise if you are sending apparatus.
It's requested that you RSVP by tomorrow (Thursday) at noon.
Apparatus Procession
Departments bringing apparatus are asked to RSVP ASAP to Rob Gagne with Costa Mesa Firefighters -- gagne@cmfd.com; (949) 355-8085
All apparatus should be at the staging area by 9:30am at Harbor Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary: 1625 Gisler Ave., Costa Mesa, CA
Condolences
Condolences may be sent via The McKee Family, 292 JoAnn Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626
|
