FEBRUARY 14, 2007

       Wednesday morning was tough for many Winnipeggers and others across the country.  It was a day to remember two firefighters killed on the job – Capt. Tom Nichols and Capt. Harold Lessard.

       The men were doing the job they’d done for 30 years without hesitation going in burning building after burning building and putting out fire after fire.

       Every day we hear the background noise of sirens rushing to the scene of an emergency but quite often we don’t put much thought into what’s actually happening.  In the case of a fire, regular people are rushing out while the truly brave are rushing in.

       And it doesn’t just go for firefighters.  The touching service on February 14 held at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre was a tribute to all public servants who put their life on the line doing something that most of us would never consider attempting.  The irony of the event happening on Valentine’s Day certainly was fitting for the outpouring of emotion the thousands of people in attendance felt at the arena.

       I was one of the lucky people who got to observe the sights and sounds of total strangers -- people who’d never met these two men – reduced to tears just hearing their personal stories and gratitude showed by their colleagues and families and political dignitaries.  Looking around the room I couldn’t even guess the percentage of people crying throughout the arena.

       There’s something surreal about seeing these people who we picture to be rough and tough and brave individuals, sitting with their heads bowed or wiping tears from their cheek. 

       It’s tough to cover a news event because reporters aren’t supposed to show emotion or get personally involved in a story.  I know many of my colleagues felt it tough to have to put on a brave face and, in some cases, report live from the scene.  For me, I was crying because I was so grateful we have people in society who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to save the life of a stranger.