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By John E. CareyDecember 4, 2006
The holiday season gives us a good opportunity to reflect upon and thank the many public servants who make America safe and secure, even on holidays such Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when every citizen wants to be home with family and friends. Go into any fire or police station on any holiday and you'll find our dedicated public servants standing guard over the rest of us.
Our military men and women earned and deserve special thanks and recognition always. But in my 20 years in the U.S. Military, it always seemed like there were a good number of visiting dignitaries, from the president on down, thanking us and sharing our turkey during the holidays.
Your neighborhood police or fire station may not be so lucky. So we offer this toast and our thanks to our dedicated public servants across America, especially those on duty or called into action during these holidays, while the rest of us take time off, enjoy the family and watch football.
My friend Frank R. Higgins of Arlington, Virginia told me the story of his multi-generational firefighting family, which left me in awe of so many police and fire professions who have served us for generations and watch over us today.
Frank's grandfather, Frank B. Higgins, Sr., joined the Atlantic City Volunteer Fire Department in 1898. Though he served in scores of fires, "Frank Senior's" family members still recall the Great Baltimore Fire which started on February 7, 1904.
Quickly this fire threatened the center of the Baltimore business district and Baltimore Chief Engineer George Horton ordered a general alarm. Horton then sent this chilling telegram to neighboring jurisdictions: "Desperate fire here. Must have help at once."
Frank R. Higgins, Sr. responded with his Atlantic City corps. Other firefighters came from Washington D.C.; Wilmington, DE; Philadelphia and other departments in the region.
In 1945, "Frank Senior" retired from firefighting after 47 years "on the line." But the Higgins family continued to serve. Frank B. Higgins, Jr. had already joined the Fort Belvoir Fire Department before the onset of World War II.
In 1942, "Frank Junior" became the 24th paid Arlington, Virginia firefighter and he wore badge number 24 proudly. In the line of duty he was injured several times. He suffered a broken hip in a fire truck accident at the corner of Glebe Road and Pershing Drive. He retired officially from firefighting in 1954; but continued to perform light duty assignments at Arlington firehouses for many years.
His son, my friend Frank B. Higgins, had already joined the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department when he was 18 years of age in 1948. He quit high school in 1951 when he joined the U.S. Government Fire Department at Arlington Hall.
I asked him what possessed him and others in his family to carry on the tradition of public service.
Frank thought for a moment and said, "We're kind crazy people, you know? Who else is going to dash into a blazing inferno?"
In 1952, Frank B. Higgins joined the Navy and first served in the Bainbridge, Maryland, Naval Training Center Fire Department. A year later he was assigned to USS Altair in Baltimore, where he served as the ship's Fire Marshall for two years.
Anyone who has served in the navy probably heard a lecture like the one I heard from a Chief Petty Officer some thirty years ago: "When there is a fire at sea, nobody is coming to help. The crew has to turn into a fire department." Every U.S. Navy sailor receives firefighting training even today.
When "Frank B." left the Navy he returned to Federal Government firefighting service in Virginia. In November, 1956, he joined the Arlington Fire Department and drew from retirement his Dad's badge: Number 24. After 23 plus years of service, and several firefighting injuries, he retired on disability and has had two back surgeries as a result of his dedication to service.
"Frank B's" brother joined the Arlington force one year after Frank. He continued the family tradition of honoring past heroes by wearing Arlington badge number 4 for more than 20 years of service.
And the story of a family dedicated to firefighting and public safety continues to this day. "Frank B's" sons Randy and David are firemen today. Their dad wears his fire radio everywhere he goes, so he can keep an ear on public safety even now.
So today, or on any holiday or any other day, we have a good opportunity to walk into our local fire or police station to say, "We know you are here. We appreciate what you do. And we thank you all." Take a pie or some other goodie. Guys like the watch team of Lieutenant Gary Dize of Falls Church, Virgina which stood guard over my family on Thanksgiving, will appreciate your extra effort.
