Helmet Blessing Prays for Responders, Remembers the Fallen
By: Mark Hiller
Updated: March 4, 2013
Prayers were offered for the safety of these brave men and women. It's a life-saving job that requires extraordinary individuals to leave their loved ones and respond at a moment's notice. "You have to want to help people. It's a dedicated job especially volunteer. You're doing it for free," said Taylor Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Graham. Taylor Volunteer Fire Department Treasurer Joe Surridge added, "It takes a special person and I think when you look around and you see the people that do this job they all kind of have that unique quality and again this is just a reminder that we need to make sure to appreciate them and look out for them."
Mr. Surridge is a lifetime member of Taylor Volunteer Fire Department. He says his family felt looked out for by the brotherhood of firefighters when his brother-in-law, Firefighter Czerw, was killed 31-years-ago. "That meant a great deal. It was really just like a lot of extended family support when you really needed it."
With the sprinkling of holy water, Rev. Gary Mensinger offered a prayer of spiritual intervention to protect the firefighting men and women in attendance who put their lives on the line at any given time.
Also remembered at the helmet blessing was Taylor Volunteer Fire Captain Dennis Owens who lost his battle with cancer last week.
