Written July 7, 2008

As I sit down to write this note, I am really not sure what I intend to say. I imagine (or at least I hope) you have received hundreds, if not thousands of notes just like this one. Notes of admiration and respect.

I have just returned from New York City, where we stayed for five days. It was a High School graduation gift to my daughter who – like me – just loves your city! This is my third time visiting and I’ll be honest with you, if I could only ever visit one city for the rest of my life, it would be yours.

Part of the appeal is, obviously, the lights, the architecture the way that when you’re there, you really do understand what “a New York minute” is. But, a deeper appeal for me, is the New York City Fire Department.

My Father is a retired Firefighter. He worked on the Ottawa Fire Department for more than thirty years and we very nearly lost him once during that time. Well, once that we know about. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties before I fully realized and appreciated what he did for a living. And it wasn’t until September 11^th, 2001 that I made a point of sitting down to tell him how much I loved and respected him and the work he did. As the child of a firefighter, it is a frightening realization, even now that I’m almost 40. I recall someone once saying to me “oh your Dad thinks he’s such a hero.” I hesitated before I responded by saying “well….that’s because he is!”

It is my opinion that there is no greater hero than a firefighter. Everyday you step into the station and put your own lives in danger for the safety of total strangers. Total strangers who may never know your true value. Total strangers who – if they are very lucky – will never *need* you but rest easy because of you.

Here, in Canada, we watched in confused horror as thousands of terrified people trampled their way up Church Street and Broadway while you ran towards the buildings disappearing into the smoke

The first time I visited Manhattan for work in 2005, we didn’t have much time and so we had to choose where and what we wanted to see in those few hours. For me, the only thing I wanted to do was visit the World Trade Center site. At that time, there was still a tribute there along with photos and a time-line of the events of the attack. I wish that my daughter could have seen it. I stood there for the longest time, looking at this great hole in the earth, crying, praying, trying to imagine what it must have been like, what it continues to be like today to have witnessed this the way you did. I cannot. It is not within the realm of my imagination.

Since that visit, as silly as it may seem, I have wanted to write to you or visit you. At one point, I very nearly loaded my daughter into the car and set out on the 8 hour drive to Manhattan to visit each and every fire department there! I suppose I just wanted to tell you…..well, I don’t really know what. That we have so much respect and admiration for you. That our hearts ache for the souls that you lost as a city and as a Brotherhood. That we remember.

I hope that my note has made it’s way to you in the way that it was intended. It is a note that I’ve tried to write so many times in the last 7 years. The intention simply was to try to convey even a small idea of what we feel for you. That we do see you as the true heroes that you are.

With much love and appreciation.