2009-10-07
Retirees honor emergency workers
Sandwiches, plaque shared with firefighters to express gratitude
By Jan Hogan, Spring Valley View Staff Writer
There were no sirens blaring, no gurneys being rolled out, no reason for the big rigs of Fire Station 44 to be there. No reason, except to receive a gesture of thanks. Atria Seville, 2000 N. Rampart Blvd., invited heroes to its facility for lunch, a way to honor those who help keep the city safe in the shadow of 9/11. "This means a lot to us," Joe Chadborne, a firefighter, said. "9/11 is an important date. We lost 343 brother firefighters that day ... It shows you how fleeting life really is."
The crew of Station 44 was fed thick sandwiches, salad and potato chips. The serve-yourself lunch was appreciated, the firefighters said, and added that a fancy, three-course luncheon wouldn't have worked due to the nature of their business. "We work really hard and do our best," fire Capt. Aaron Downing said. "It's nice to hear we're appreciated ... If someone was doing tile work and someone says, 'You did a good job,' they'd feel the same way."
Duty-conscious Downing and John Hurley, also a captain, kept their radios beside them on the table, in case an emergency call came in. Sometimes those calls mean racing to Atria Seville. In fact, the firefighters estimated that they get called to the senior living facility as often as once a day. "Some patients, we see several times," paramedic Andrew Osborn said. "You see the same face, and you already know what's going on with them."
Jim Cunnigham, senior executive director for Atria Seville, said that he sent an open invitation to the Metropolitan Police Department, emergency medical technician companies and two other area fire stations. But by the end of the day, only Station 44, located at 7701 W. Washington Ave., took advantage of it. The firefighters were presented with a plaque from the senior living facility.
Honored during the event were Todd Miller, a firefighter; Ray Spigner, a paramedic; Sarah McCrea, a paramedic; Chuck Stankosky, an engineer; Mark Duncan, a firefighter; George Wills, an engineer; Hurley; Osborn; Chadborne; and Downing. "We'd like to make this an annual thing," Cunningham said. "They (the residents) love to see them here and visit with them."
Atria resident Bonnie Novak said seeing the big fire trucks outside did not cause alarm among residents. "It's a complete feeling of security, just knowing that they're there," she said.
Contact Summerlin and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.