The Woodlands Fire Department's Chief Buck inspires Rotarians on Patriot Day

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Woodlands Fire Department’s Chief, Palmer Buck, visited the Rotary Club of The Woodlands at its weekly meeting on September 11 as special guest speaker.

Even before the luncheon began, Buck was involved in putting out a fire near the home of Rotary president (and Township board member) Cindy Heiser, but made it to the meeting in time to be welcomed by all.

As he took the podium, Buck iterated what he had spoken earlier in the morning at the Patriot Day commemoration at Fire Station 1: “Twenty-four years ago today, our nation watched ordinary people make extraordinary choices. They chose courage over fear, duty over safety, and service over self. Today, we remember the 2,977 lives taken on September 11, 2001, and to pay tribute to the 412 first responders who gave everything in the line of duty – 343 members of the FDNY, 23 officers of the NYPD, 37 officers of the Port Authority Police, eight EMTs and paramedics, and one member of the New York Fire Patrol. Their sacrifice set a standard for all who wear a badge, a shield, or a patch.”

After calling for the observance of a moment of silence, Buck told the assembly that remembrance is not passive, that it asks we honor the fallen not only with ceremony, but with conduct. His words rang true in the ears of the Rotarians, as their club credo is ‘Service Above Self.’

Buck noted an interesting piece of trivial knowledge, that most fire trucks have signage on their backs warning tailgaters to stay back 343 feet – this number is to acknowledge the number of souls lost by the FDNY on 9/11.

In closing, Buck asked the assembly to consider three words: remember, reflect, and renew.

“As first responders, we take an oath, pledging to serve and protect our citizens fr0m harm. When we report for work, we never know what the day may bring or what challenges we might face. From car wrecks to house fires, medical calls to hurricane response, we stand at the ready to answer the call. Regardless of the challenge, the men and women of The Woodlands Fire Department continue to do their jobs taking care of our community.”