Yeah, "mack" is right. It was a great visit and he sure was good to me. He gave me a great tour in a very short period of time.
"mack" is a volunteer firefighter in Fairfax County where he is assigned to Station 10 in Bailey Heights, Va. I had visited the Fairfax County Fire Dept back in the mid 80s. They were always a very progressive dept. But back then I got to a few of their stations, but never made it to Station 10. I wanted to get there back then because at the time, Station 10 was the busiest station in the County then. But I got there this time, and this is where "mack" spends one shift every eight days. And today, Station 10 is STILL THE BUSIEST in the County. I saw it first hand for myself.
"mack" and I stopped in the firehouse where there is an Engine Co, a BLS (basic life support ambulance), a ALS Medic Ambulance and a Truck Company. The Truck was out at the shops I believe when we got there. The rigs are parked under a large tent in front of the orginial fire station where the roof collapsed from snowfall. That roof still is not repaired.
The area represents the melting pot of America. People from every country living within a few sq blocks of each other. In the first due response area were the normal single family dwellings, then there were the 3 story apartment buildings with the bicycles, clothes, trash etc on the balconies, making me wonder what the apartments look like inside. There's the many kids running around, and the parking lots that "mack" tells me get pretty crowded on a warm, humid Virginia night. Then there's the 20-25 story high rise apartment buildings that kind of remind me of NYCs Co-Op City. And of course the usual gas stations and the newer style taxpayer buildings with its many businesses under one roof. Overall, I was pretty impressed with the first due response area of Fairfax County Station 10.
I found out that all of Fairfax County Apparatus are in the 400 series. At Station 10 where mack is there is "Ambulance 410", "Medic 410", "Engine 410", and "Truck 410". At station 34 is the HazMat Unit called "HazMat 434". A Station with a Battalion might be "Battalion 428". Close to Fairfax County Station 10 is the Arlington County Border. Those numbers are in the 200 series. Such as; Engine 203, Truck 205, Rescue 208, Battalion 207 etc. Mutual aid is automatic. On one of the high rise apts I talked about you get maybe an Engine and Rescue from Arlington County, and the rest of the response might be from Fairfax County.
To let you know how busy Station 10 is, while I was there in about two hours there were Five seperate calls. Mostly medical of course, but not too much free time as I see it. Then after leaving the firehouse we stopped to get some gas and apparently the Truck (410) was coming back in service as we saw it go riding by taking in a run. Its a very busy place and I hope to go down there again soon.
Also as mack said, we attended the funeral for the Navy Seal. I had never been to a military funeral. When you see the family and friends that must deal with this huge loss, it makes you think. Sadly, while this sailors funeral was going on, most Americans have no idea of the price this young Navy Seal has paid so we all can be free. Or the price that the friends and families must pay for the rest of their lives.
The Marine Memorial that was built with such detail of those marines raising the American flag. Or Arlington Cemetary where there are headstones rows after rows. All of Great Americans who fought for Our Freedom. Mack made it all possible, plus more.
"mack" also is one of our Great Americans. His father was an FDNY Battalion Chief during the busiest years in the history of the FDNY. His brother was also on the job. mack often rode with his father during those years. And he has his own set of stories about "My Younger Buff Years" to tell. His son is on a busy company in the Boston Fire Dept.
"mack" himself is kind of a special guy. I think its only right that we give credit to a Great American. "mack" as he calls himself is a graduate of West Point. He was selected to be one of the very few to be an Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetary. Mack is a retired Army Colonel. As Army Colonel, he was the Commanding officer at the NYC airports and ground operations during 9/11. He was one of the first to fly over the site. A sight he'll never forget. As Colonel he was the Commanding Officer in charge of constructing a fence along the Calif and Ariz border to keep illegal imigrants from entering the US after 9/11. And just to put a little frosting on the cake, mack holds not one, but Two Masters Degrees.
And I thought I had something going for me when I told him I was a fireman and rode Squad "A" in Norwich, Ct.
