19

19

Just a few days after the Yarnell fire took the lives of 19 Hotshots from Prescott, AZ, my wife and I had a chance to meet with several Hospice Family Care staff members that work in Prescott.  My job was to listen and provide needed emotional support for our staff.

Driving into town we could feel the somber mood of this tight knit community.  One very large flag was blowing in the wind at half-staff.  This was an emotional and graphic reminder to us of the 19 lives lost.  What was planned some time ago as a celebration weekend turned into a time of vigils, reflections, tears, and at times, stunned silence.

We met people who knew family members, or knew people who knew family members, and they all said the same thing in their own words.  The community out-pouring of support has been phenomenal.  Our hospice was involved at many levels in the support, which gave us an up close and personal insight into the tragedy. We saw and felt how the people were being affected.

One of our staff members, a former firefighter herself, saw, and spoke to the “20^th firefighter.” The one survivor.  The meeting was brief and emotional with a big hug and few words. While the community rightly pours out its heart and resources to the families who lost their loved ones, the “20^th man” is dealing with his memories and emotions. Nineteen is a number he will never forget, but more than that he knows the people, faces and personalities of 19 Hot Shot firefighters and their surviving family members.

In the city of Yarnell, not much is left.  Homes are either a pile of ash, or left standing, with smoke damage. At the time I write this, only residents and necessary personnel are allowed into the town.  A town with massive devastation, no electricity, and the smell of destruction hanging in the air. Still to come is a search for missing and unaccounted persons. That grim task has to wait for the hot spots to be contained so it is safe and accessible.

We found out that several of our patients were evacuated from Yarnell. It took several days to determine which homes were still left standing. But it was officially confirmed, while we were visiting, that none of them lost their homes. Thanks to many volunteer outreach and disaster recovery groups, these patients remained safe.

As details of the tragedy unfold, the emotional weight and impact continues to build on the communities. Even for those who lost their homes, their focus is on those who lost loved ones.

Prescott had an annual rodeo and other related events over the 4th of July weekend. Celebrations turned to memorials this year, though.  Friday night and Saturday night were scheduled rodeo shows for the community.  Nineteen wreaths were on display at the show location.  Those 19 wreaths accompanied the 19 firefighters to Phoenix on Sunday, and then will be displayed at the memorial service later this week.

Memories impact each of us to different degrees.  This was one memory that had a great impact and will live with me for a lifetime.  This little description of our day barely touches the surface. The journey for those closely connected to the 19 firefighters is just beginning. The journey is unique and individual and each will deal with the tragic loss in their own way, but never alone and without support from the community.

Long after the media has left town and the memorial services (both public and private) are over, the community will still deal with the loss and tragedy of this event.  Healing will begin, but 19 lives will never be forgotten: Nineteen men who died in the line of duty; nineteen sons, husbands and family members; nineteen friends and community members.   Never to be forgotten.

Take time today to hug your loved ones, count your blessings and thank the Lord for life.