9/11....We Remember. This past weekend was a whirlwind of memorials and dedications. One commercial created by State Farm "Empire State of Mind" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WozKutSbz8Y) really pulled some strings...not just because the commercial was made well, but because the Firehouse showcased in the commercial was the same Engine 205 Ladder 118 I visited earlier this year. Let me just say that these firemen were all very down to earth individuals who all had stories to say about that fateful day. Walking into the station, you can almost feel the presence of those that walked through the same hallways checking equipment, sliding down the pole when the alarm rings, or putting on over a hundred pound worth of gear...that's correct...A Fireperson has over a hundred pounds worth of gear at some point, not including carrying a person (if need be) through a roaring fire in a burning building. These men literally will put their lives on the line and talking to them and sharing their stories is just mind blowing. One cannot grasp what they do until you see how they live in a station first-hand. Here's a few photos from the station. They are by the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO and you can never miss their firehouse with their famous mural on their door. They are also a fun bunch since while one of them, Danny, was demonstrating his equipment in front of the truck, one of the lieutenants climbed on top of the truck with a bucket of water and poured it all on the uknowing fireman...and I was next to him! Good thing I looked up on time...I don't think my camera would have survived :-).
