Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | 4:20 p.m.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, firefighters have come to epitomize heroes for Americans. The figure of the soot-smeared face of an exhausted firefighter in turnouts is a ubiquitous symbol of a hero, much like the figure of a weary soldier in camouflage.
But these heroes are human also. Like the rest of us, they spend a large percentage of their waking lives with their workmates. Unlike the rest of us, they entrust each other with their lives on a regular basis. That breeds a level of mutual trust and closeness that is unique.
When firefighters have to say goodbye to one of their own, it is like grieving for a lost family member.
In the case of Henderson firefighter Jeff Mann, who died within three weeks of the diagnosis of cancer, the grief is mingled with shock. His farewell, full of pomp and ceremony, might have embarrassed Mann, described by his friends and family as a humble, hard-working man.
Last rites are not for those who have left us. They are for the living who must find a way to process their grief. The honor bestowed on Mann is representative of the honor we would like to give our rescue workers every day to thank them for being there for us in every emergency.
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