First Responder of the Month - Ryan Cooper

In the midst of sorrow, we often find reason to be thankful. For instance, just last week, what should have been a quick flight turned into tragedy. A small plane headed from Daytona Beach to central Florida crashed into two homes, killing five people. Both people aboard the plane died, along with a woman and two children in the homes. Still, many are thankful for the hero who was there that day—Ryan Cooper.

Ryan was the firefighter who ran into the burning homes—without an air pack—and pulled a 10-year old boy and his father to safety. Incredibly, Ryan was off-duty that day but happened to be standing in his driveway when the crash occurred right down the street. Amid the smoke inhalation and disorientation, he was able to rescue two residents who are forever grateful for his incredible heroism.

USA Today says that Ryan prefers not to be called a hero, saying he “did what any firefighter would do…everybody that goes to work, every 24 hours, at every fire station across the country, it's their job to do it.” Even so, we salute Ryan Cooper for his heroic efforts, and we recognize his amazing courage and selflessness.

A reminder to give back

For the past week, I have been mailing letters to solicit donations. I wonder what people’s reactions will be when they first read these letters. I imagine many of them will automatically think of the recent fire in Charleston that claimed the lives of nine firefighters, the nation’s deadliest single disaster for firefighters since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Isn’t it odd that just as we’re asking for donations to help firefighters, these nine heroes died?

We’ll never know why such tragedies happen. But we do know that the families and friends of those who were close to the nine firefighters will never be the same.

I hope that people will view the Fund as a way to help and to give back to those who have sacrificed for us. Perhaps our donation letter will reach people when they are thinking about our nation’s firefighters; maybe some will donate this time around when they have not in the past.

Although we cannot take back what happened that day, perhaps it will make us all appreciate our firefighters who risk their lives every time they walk into a burning building. Perhaps people will give a little more to our firefighters this year just to say, “We support you, we honor you, and we thank you for all that you have done.”

A salute to the Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner of Texas

Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner Ms. Lisa Ivie Miller is a long time supporter of the fire service and has displayed her loyalty by choosing an occupation that is all about taking care of our fire service in the state of Texas. Her appointment will expire soon and I could not let the opportunity pass to congratulate her.

I am proud to have her on my Board of Directors of the WPI Firefighters’ Fund. I can always go to Lisa for advice, inspiration, and a good measure of common sense about the best way to handle the business of our non-profit.

On behalf of the firefighters, here’s to you, Lisa Ivie Miller, on a job well done! I look forward to many more years with you on my Board. You have been such an asset to the development, planning, and consistent progression of our organization.