AFFTON, Mo. – As we gathered around tables to give thanks, our first responders were diligent in their work of keeping St. Louis safe while sharing Thanksgiving dinner.
“We have to work holidays; we miss birthdays, things like that; and when it comes to holidays, we try to do something special and have a family meal together,” Mark Bryant, Affton Fire Protection District, said.
Families of firefighters and EMTs from Affton and Lemay came together to be with the heroes that we are all thankful for, but this year they shook things up a little from the usual Thanksgiving main dish.
“We decided to roast a whole pig this year, not the traditional turkey. So, it took a lot of planning on who was gonna get the pig, who would cook it. What if the trucks went out? Who would watch the pig? So, a lot of guys put in a lot of effort to make sure it was a success,” Bryant said.
So, what happens when the trucks have to go out?
“We get up and leave, and then we come back and use the microwave to reheat our meal because the community comes first,” Bryant said.
Smiling faces and sounds of laughter ensured this holiday was a great one for the crews who work 48-hour shifts away from home. A sacrifice for the community that the firefighters say always comes first. And we can all do our part to help by using safe fire handling practices this holiday season.