| In an emotional and moving ceremony in City Hall’s Legacy Room on Thursday, Fire Chief Muñoz joined Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Proessional Firefighters Association President Patrick “Marty” Lancton in thanking a group of HFD members who volunteered their time and talents in the Texas Hill Country.These firefighters, who spent personal time scouring riverbeds and flood-ravaged disaster zones, received Certificates of Excellence before an audience of surviving family members of “Heaven’s 27,” the group of girls who passed away at Camp Mystic when torrential rain destroyed the area.
Speaking to the families who lost daughters and the firefighters who volunteered to assist, Mayor Whitmire said, “Your loss and this tragedy brought Houston together. Even in your grief, with your hearts on fire, you have gathered here today to publicly thank these first responders.”
“God does not allow us to choose when we lose a loved one, but He allows us to come together and support one another. So, today is special. We needed this, in the turmoil of today’s world, we need to come together to share our loss, and know the sun rose this morning, and we are going to support each other,” Mayor Whitmire said.
The firefighters who received the Certificates of Excellence also shared something special for the families of the Camp Mystic campers. Each family received a shadow box and charm engraved with the name of their child, donated by James Avery.
“Disaster knows no bounds. Floodwaters don’t stop at city lines, and neither does compassion,” said Chief Muñoz. “Whether it’s here at home or hundreds of miles away, our firefighters stand ready – guided not by where the need is, but by why they serve.”
One of the campers, Gwynne Getten, lost her sister Ellen in the storms. Gwynne’s words at the ceremony were deeply moving, and she was presented with a special challenge coin by Chief Muñoz.
“Even though I am only 12, I have been through more than most 30-year-olds. That should not be ok,” said Getten. “Even though it was so scary and horrible, the only thing that made me feel safe is that there were firefighters searching for my sister.”
A link to the photos can be found on HFD’s Facebook.
|
