October 10, 2007

D.C. & Maryland Trip Part 1 ³

by Wendy • Traveling Bites

I was invited back to be the presiding chaplain for the annual National Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, MD.  Last year was my first year and I had such a wonderful experience.  I was so honored to be asked to come back and help again with this year’s service.  This year had an extra dose of excitement because the President came to the Sunday Memorial service to be with the families. 

I had to fly out early to be at a meeting for the Congressional Fire Services Institute and then for a senate hearing on Capitol Hill.   John didn’t want me to go to Washington DC by myself, so he was able to fly out with me for a couple of days.  He really wanted to go to the Memorial Service since he was there last year and made some new friends with the survivors but he had to go back home to puppy sit and go to work.  I was really bummed he couldn’t stay but he was able to make it out for one of the events for the Weekend Memorial.

Here are the pictures from Washington DC.  I will upload pictures from the Memorial Weekend tomorrow (hopefully).

The day that we flew into Maryland, we had the opportunity to visit some very dear people in my life, especially in my younger years in the fire service.  David & Carrie of the Kent Island Fire Department, lived in Benicia, CA when I was in high school and was very active with the fire department there.  They took me under their wings and really taught me about the fire service.  I just adored them so much and was so blessed to have had them as a guide.  Around the time I moved to Texas they moved to Maryland and we lost touch until recently.  David somehow found me on the internet when he was doing some research and the rest is history.  I couldn’t go to Maryland without seeing them.  It brought back so many memories and it seemed like just yesterday when I had seen them last.

They gave us a tour of their fire house.  They have some nice equipment and apparatus.

Their beautiful new station!  Isn’t it incredible?  Thanks so much David & Carrie for your hospitality!  We had a great time!  We can’t wait to see you again.

Trying to work the subway ticket machine in DC.  We always have issues with those things!

Walking to work at the Senate building.  What a long commute from Houston to DC!

After my morning meeting we had to rush back to the hotel so we could get into our uniforms, check out of the hotel and then rush back to Capital Hill for the Senate Hearings.  The Senate was listening to cases from the survivors of fallen firefighters who were not receiving their promised death benefits.  One of the survivors testifying was a family I had worked with.  It’s been a two + year battle for these families to receive their benefits and hopefully because of this hearing they will start to get the money they so rightfully deserve.

Us waiting in line to get into the room for the hearing.  Senator John Kerry walked by and stopped to say hello to us.  He looks so much different in person.  It was kind of surprising.

In the Senate Chambers.  What a great experience that was!  I have never been to a hearing and it was so neat to see how it worked.  It was a lot different than I expected.   

Yes, I know my hat is crooked…I don’t get along with my dress uniform very well.

President pictures coming tomorrow!