OPINION
I've been thinking about our community here in Pauls Valley and the unlimited potential we have here as citizens to continue making our town a safe and productive area in which to live and raise our families.
As a retired firefighter, I also realize what it takes to maintain the safety and well-being of our hometown and surrounding areas. This brings to my mind how important it is for our county commissioners and city management teams to work together to provide needed services, such as water quality, roadways, public safety services and other integral elements that are the makeup of a successful town as ours.
I'm thankful for the great team of first responders, law enforcement personnel, EMS paramedics, parks and wildlife rangers and firefighters. As a former active firefighter, I am aware of the immediate preparedness, both emotionally and physically, which a person needs to respond to those in emergency situations. Since I have experienced those conditions, I believe some personal insight would benefit others who may wonder what a first responder's life is like.
Fire and rescue services have always been an important part of any community, large or small, and dependent upon welltrained men and women who have a heart for and willingness to help other human beings in their time of need. This requires around-the-clock readiness and availability, which, in the case of the firefighter, requires usually a 24-hour shift commitment at a fire station strategically located in a community. When an alarm is sounded, there is an adrenal gland response, which energizes one's body and mind to respond to help those in need. The challenge is, especially when one is awakened while asleep, that the heart and other vital organs of the body, over a period of time, are taxed and stressed, not to mention other exposure to smoke and toxic substances.
In summation, I am very thankful for the opportunity to have served as a firefighter in my younger years, and my wife and I are very thankful for the services provided by the city. We would like to see that our firefighters, many of whom have families to support, receive an equitable raise in pay as others who serve in our city. We are thankful for the wonderful area of the country in which God has placed us for the past 37 years.
Respectfully,
Retired firefighter Marty Vierra
