J Kleeman Photography: 26 years of service

It’s long over due this communication, I have been otherwise engaged. It’s a very polite way of saying that I have been choosing to do other things. Here is one thing I have done!

Just this morning I dropped off a set of photo disks for a ceremony I was invited to participate in. It was a momentous occasion for one of our very own firefighters, the retirement after 26 years of service.

I see family and friends

A seasoned firefighter – making life and death decisions – often the hard ones in a life, in a moment or an instant – he knew the time was right, and so he retires.

I look to the friends and family in the back ground and I see just how momentous an occasion this night is. I am honored to be invited, I bring the camera, you probably all know better than my face… the gray hair above the lens tells you it’s me.

The Walk Out

This time honored tradition, the “Walk out” includes bringing the flag of the day down and having the firefighter of the hour carry it across the apparatus floor, head tall - a practiced gate to the walk, his last shift has been completed.

This firefighter has firemen to the left and family and friends to the right, it is a short walk... but one which has taken years to complete!

A rousing round of applause, which keeps on for quite some time – a testament to his service, then the attack – surrounded by his shift mates and others, he is swallowed up in the huddle which turns into a big hug.

His last tour over, he will be ever vigilant, he now turns to his family and they will have him 24 7, he will sleep thru the night with no interruptions – well not tonight but we hope soon, for he deserves it.