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This is a very heartfelt thank you short story from our family.
As a fellow member of the fire service I know and see all to well the same things the men and women of Green Bay Metro Fire do.
On February 19, 2020, I had the very difficult experience of being in the victim side of a terrible medical incident in my own home. As my wife was finishing the dishes after dinner, she suffered a massive stroke right in front of our 2 daughters. I hadn't gotten home yet as I just finished my shift on my fire department for the day and was on my way home. My youngest daughter called and told me I needed to get home immediately, mom was having a stroke. While I was trying to process this information, I was unaware that my other daughter had already called 911 and Green Bay Metro Fire was already there, arriving at our house in 3 minutes and were already assessing and preparing to transport her to the hospital. I don't remember much of the rest of my drive to the hospital but remember getting in the door as a member of Green Bay fire was removing their stretcher from the treatment Room.
The firefighters and medics from Green Bay metro fire station number 3 had gotten to our house loaded her up and transported her to the hospital where doctors were able to give her the vital TPA medicine needed during a stroke in under 22 minutes. I can honestly say I was completely lost and feeling very helpless. I can deal with this stuff just like they do professionally and without hesitation all the time, But to be on the other side with a patient who is your own a family member and see the job that these men and women do and how quickly they responded made me feel very at ease and that we now that she got the best care possible in those 1st 22 minutes when it was most important.
I just wanted to take a moment to let all members of the Green Bay metro fire department and especially those firefighters and medics that responded that night how completely grateful we are for what they did for my wife. They responded just as they were trained to do and did their job to the best of their ability and at the same time made me feel comfortable knowing she was in the hands of fellow firefighters that were doing everything to help her. As scared as we all were, I still felt a great deal of comfort knowing I had some of the best firefighters and medics around helping us when we needed it.
Thanks to all their efforts and the wonderful staff at Saint Vincents hospital we can happily say that mom is home she is recovering and improving little-by-little everyday. She result me 53 years old and suffered a massive stroke generally seen afflicting those in their seventies. She was in relatively good health and it is still unknown what caused the stroke. We have a long road ahead of us but we still have her and she's making progress every day and that is why we can't think the men and women of Green Bay metro fire, And specifically the firefighters and medics on shift that night at station 3.
During the whole Covid-19 lockdown, I out of no where took up a hobby of custom wood crafting to occupy my "down time" or as something to just relax and give me my little break here and there while working my FD shifts, helping with mom's rehab, running the kids to work and appointments etc. It rapidly grew faster than I ever expected and as too am a Firefighter, the majority of my projects were focused on the public safety and health care field and all the essential workers. To date I have almost lost track of how many projects and different plaques I've made over the last 2 months but sitting the other night with nothing on my table to currently work on I decided I needed to do one more. I designed and had my partner cut a plaque made specifically for the numbers of Green Bay metro fire station number 3 as my family's way of thinking them for everything they did for us and for everything may do everyday for all the residents of the city of Green Bay. It was presented to the shift working this afternoon with much gratitude and honor. I realized only after presenting them with this plaque that I more than likely might end up with at least a few more requests from the men and women I'll be other 7 fire houses in the city of Green Bay. If that should be the case, I would be honored toand proudly make one of these plaques for each fire station if someone should decide to order one. Firefighters and medics do their jobs because they truly enjoy the job and do not do it for the glory in recognition. They don't get the thank you's and appreciation nearly often enough just out of good will. So my myself and my family, good bless you all, thank you for that day and for all you do every day, every shift. We will forever be thankful that because of you, mom is still here and improving and for that our family wanted to present this small acknowledgement of your service.
The Milwaukee Fire Honor Guard, INC. Honors your Page! Thank you for all you do! Stay safe. Please visit our page if you need anything!
The Milwaukee Fire Honor Guard, INC. Honors your Page! Thank you for all you do! Stay safe. Please visit our page if you need anything!
Today we say goodbye to one of our own, retired Captain Keith Lindbo. He was very instrumental in many of our careers and had an impact on so many as a EMS instructor. He was a man who loved his job and was always smiling. He will be sadly missed.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day occurs on December 7 of each year, designated in memory of the lives lost in the 1941 attack and to remember that we enjoy freedom thanks to their sacrifice. The attack claimed the lives of 2,334 servicemen and servicewomen and wounded another 1,143.
On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii. . Some organizations may hold special events in memory of those killed or injured at Pearl Harbor.
Challenge coins are in!!!
Help support the Brotherhood in Milwaukee, we are raising funds to help pay for the cost of medical bills for Milwaukee Fire Department Heavy Equipment Operator Brian Cox and Firefighter Derek Geppert. 100% of the proceeds will go to support them and their family's.
Both of our brother's and their family's need our help!!! Please pass and share this post to everyone.
Heavy Equipment Operator Cox is fighting leukemia, he doesn't have enough time on the job to have it "job related". So everything is out of his pocket.
FIrefighter Geppert had a stroke on the job due to a chemical exposure on the job(they have yet to prove his duty disability). He has suffered 3 more strokes since the first one. Also his wife has had a round of cancer and beat it, but is not back to work yet. FF Geppert family is living off of our fundraising till his duty is approved.
Two ways to get them:
They will be available at Milwaukee FD Stations 2(Matt Bryant), 12(shirt closet), 24(Joe Flick), and Relief Lieutenant Blake Vinson will have them with him. All places have them for $15.
They are $20 to be shipped anywhere in the country, the $20 covers the coin and shipping. I am taking orders via PayPal or check.
Send $20 or the amount to cover how many you want shipped to you. i.e. You want 3 coins, send $60.
Send to
[email protected] via PayPal. You MUST send as "Freind and Family". In the note section, you MUST put your name and address.
Or send check to:
Blake Vinson
3218 N. 60th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53216
Special thank you to Challenge Coin Plus for absorbing some of the cost, so more proceeds will go to our Brothers. And a Thank you to Ryan Venne and Gregg Danes for allowing me to use the logos they came up with to help raise funds.
Thank you to the brother hood of local 141 Green Bay Fire and Honor Guard for watching over my dads funeral service and for remembering your fallen brother. Floyd "Jim" Cropsey. Passed away last Tuesday and funeral was Sunday. Special thanks to Dennis Metz and the outstanding bag pipe song and Honor Guard presentation. You all made the funeral a little easier on the family and definatly made it special. May God Bless you all in your daily work and my dad will watch over you all to return home safe.
Thank you
Mike Cropsey and family