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The decision to write a new book is never taken lightly. While there are many types of Heroes we can celebrate, our goal is to make an impact on those who don't normally seek recognition, but deserve it.
It touches my heart that YOU'RE MY HERO® - NEW YORK STATE FIRE SERVICE is going to be our first book in the United States.
Like most kids, I have personally had a love and admiration for our brave men and women on the trucks since I was a little guy. I would run around the house with my red plastic helmet bouncing off my head. I would store my secret treasures in that very same red helmet went I went to bed.
When I found out my Uncle George was a fireman, he went near the top of my Heroes List, right next to Dave Keon, Johnny Bower and Frank Mahovlich of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.
To all who are involved in this book, to all who proudly carry the badge, to their families and their friends, THANK YOU. You are loved and appreciated.
To read Barry’s sample story, click here
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While attending a seminar in California, I was fortunate enough to sit next to a silly man by the name of Barry Spilchuk. He was telling someone about how he was writing a book called You’re My Hero®. As I was listening to the description of his book, all I kept thinking about was my adopted family – my brother and sister firefighters. Waiting patiently for this exuberant man to take a breath, I jumped on the opportunity.
I turned to Barry and said, “You should write about firefighters and EMTs.” His response was “that’s a great idea, people can tell stories about what firefighters and EMTs have done to help them.”
My response was “why not let the firefighters tell their story about what or who has inspired them, about who their heroes are?"
You see, no one ever asks the firefighters why they do what they do. Instead, people talk about how crazy firefighters are to run into a burning building, or they ask why we risk our lives every day to help someone we don’t know.
Maybe by writing this book people will understand us a little more. It’s funny because as I ask my fellow firefighters and EMTs why they do what they do, I am learning so much about them. I think we are getting closer as I pose this question and ask them about their heroes and inspiring stories. I have found that we all have more in common than I thought. I hope this will be true for so many other firefighters as they think about and share their stories of heroes and inspiration.
I believe every firefighter and EMT has a story to tell. Is their hero another firefighter, a neighbor, a victim who touched their soul and they will never forget? I think it's time the world stopped to realize we are a group of people with a calling; a calling to protect life. I want people to understand why we feel honored when we put our own life on the line so someone else can live. I also want people to understand why it hurts us all as a whole when one of our brothers or sisters doesn’t make it out. This is something, I as one firefighter have not been able to communicate or explain until now.
So, I am calling on all of the firefighters and EMTs. Let’s talk, let’s tell our stories. Let's honor our fallen brothers and sisters with this book. Let's honor our families who are fearful and worried every time the tones go off. Let's tell the world about our heroes.
We have chosen to donate a significant portion of the proceeds from this book to New York State-based charities and we will announce the charities on this website in January, 2010.
I wish to thank Barry, Sarah and Sasha for this opportunity. And for all my brothers and sisters in the firematic world, Stay Safe!!!!
Firematically Yours, Lisa Acton