Three generations of Wildland Fire Fighters

This is a little different type of post.  I feel like I want to share my happiness and my sorrow.  The story starts long ago, three generations back in fact.

I'm going to share my story in reverse.  So as you have figured out by now, I am married to a (amazing, hard-working, my hero) Wildland Firefighter.  I met my husband through my brother, who is a WFF.  Dad was a WFF for 30+ years.  My mom met my dad through my Grandpa who was a WFF for 30+ .....so there's a legacy in our family of hard-working, brave Wildland Firefighters!!!

My Grandpa life on earth ended this week, but his legacy will live on forever.  He is such a great man who worked hard to fight fires and lead the future firefighters, too.  He was on many different "large" fires in our area, and has shared (through the years) stories of them all.  He even still has the station log books which also document what was happening back when history was being made in some areas.  The last 10 years, my husband and I have had the privilege of vacationing back to see Grandma & Grandpa a few times.  The stories never cease to amaze me.  He can even recall a meal that was cooked by the station cook!!  He has shared stories of engines getting stuck, station inspections and how they all worked hard to honor CDF.  We were able to see him in April (before he started to decline fast) and he shared with us, through his soft voice and oxygen tube even more stories of fighting fires and firefighter memories.  I'm so thankful that our son has had a few visits with Great-Papa and that we have pictures to share with him about who Great-Papa was.  Occasionally you'll run into an old friend who worked with Grandpa, and they share so many wonderful memories of Grandpa and who he was in CDF.  So while I am a little sad to know that my Grandpa has gone home to Jesus, I am so proud to be his Grand-Daughter and be the third generation of his legacy.  I only hope some of the younger firefighters today, learn about these "old" chiefs and how they brought great things to the department.