One of the purposes of this website is to collect and disseminate stories. I’ve done some work as a police chief promoting practices and systems of information / intelligence collection and dissemination. These fusion centers focus on receiving information, analyzing it and disseminating it as intelligence that can be applied in our public safety operations. So maybe what I’ve got going here is a “spiritual exercise fusion center”. I can collect stories, analyze them and put them out to the troops as a “spiritual fitness exercise”.

This morning I received an e-mail from my son who recently joined the Steese Area Fire Department, located just outside of Fairbanks Alaska. He was passing along an e-mail post (http://firefighterclosecalls.com/) he had received and thought it fit into what I’m now doing. As I read it, and thought about it (I don’t really think I’d call it analysis, but it is a start) I found a couple of ideas that could give readers something to think about. So take a few minutes and read this story about the passing of a man of faith who spent a big part of his life caring for those who spend their lives protecting others.

It’s with sadness that we pass on to the members of The Secret List that our friend and very well known California Fire Service Chaplain, Monsignor John Sammon, passed away at about 4:30 Friday morning of natural causes in his residence. Monsignor Sammon had spent Thanksgiving with his family on Thursday. The California Fire Service, the Orange County Fire Service as well as the nation’s fire service lost a dear friend, spiritual advisor, cheerleader and clearly…a fire service icon. The “fire service” legacy of “Monsignor” began in Compton in 1942 – when his responsibilities split. His work as a priest often led him to nearby hospitals, where he met several firefighters. He started visiting the fire station down the street from his parish, friendships grew, and he was appointed chaplain. They told him he couldn’t promote the Catholic religion or talk politics, he recalled. He still held to those guidelines 60+ years later. “I’ve never once asked any firefighter about their faith or if they went to church,” he said. “I just wanted them to know that while they were taking care of people, someone was taking care of them.”

From his earliest days as a chaplain, Sammon learned to honor the fire service tradition of eating ice cream to celebrate awards, promotions or a firefighter getting their picture in the newspaper. He’s concerned that these days, firefighters’ health consciousness is causing the ice cream tradition to melt away.

In 1944, Catholic leaders moved Sammon to an L.A. parish and let him continue moonlighting as a chaplain for the fire service as well as for police. He also served as the Los Angeles Rams’ chaplain. “I kept telling them, ‘If I pray and you play, we’ll win,’” he said. “Well, I did my part. ”

In 1960, Sammon was transferred to Tustin to serve as pastor for St. Cecilia Catholic Church. He had already befriended several Orange County chiefs at fire service events, so it was natural for him to continue his work as a fire chaplain.

Anyone who ever met Monsignor Sammon knew that a high priority of his was to care for all firefighters and to unify the fire service “family”. He didn’t want departments to be isolated islands. “I’ve always preached that we’re a family…because we are one,” Sammon said.

I have been fortunate to know and befriend many wonderful Fire Chaplains of all faiths in my career. That group of “behind the scene heroes”..the Fire Chaplains, have never failed to make a positive and calming difference. They are a stabilizing force during some rough times as well as an important part of the good times….and they matter. Take a moment to check out this site: http://www.firechaplains.org/ for more on the fine work done by Fire Chaplains.

 

I was considering making a Thanksgiving post today, just a general holiday greeting. As I checked my e-mails this morning I was greeted with the following letter. So instead, I say thank you for this wonderful Thanksgiving Day gift. And a very special thanks to all who protect and serve and spend their days (even holidays when the rest of us are home with our families) carrying out their duties professionally, compassionately and with kindness.

Last week, an Eden Prairie Officer came to our family’s rescue. In the early afternoon, my son-in-law, was observed by one of your Officers staggering along the road, crying. He has battled severe depression for years and we have been to countless doctors and placed him in many facilities. He had had a reaction to his medication over the weekend and couldn’t stand the depression any longer. He managed to make it on foot to the liquor store. He thought he could just drown the depression with booze. Your Officer took the time to call his wife, and they made arrangements to transport him to the hospital. I work in the Emergency Room and I was here when the Officer came in with him. This Officer could have made our day a nightmare but instead, he was my hero. He stayed just long enough to ask if he could help in any other way. I thanked him for bringing our son-in-law to the hospital and he left. I know good people join the Police department to help people and try and make a difference. Very seldom do they get the thanks they deserve. There aren’t any words to convey the thanks I have for this Officer. I don’t even know his name. Could you please find him and let him know that we appreciate what he did for us and that our son-in-law is OK. We were able to get him into another hospital today. He will miss Thanksgiving with his wife and children but at least he is safe. So, whoever this thank you belongs to, God Bless you Sir and keep safe.

Our Thanks.

(Note: The above letter was slightly edited removing names and other identifiers)