Dear Firefighters,

Thank you for spending countless hours at the firehouse. Thank you for waking up at 2:00 am to help save a family whose house burst into flames. Thank you for saving the life of someone's father when he went into cardiac arrest. Thank you for using the Jaws of Life to extract the woman who was hit head-on. Thank you for being so selfless that you do not even think twice when you run into a burning building.

You are heroes. You may not feel like you are, but I can promise you there is a little boy or girl looking up to you. A little boy dresses up like a firefighter for Halloween every year. A little girl is in awe when a fire truck passes her in traffic.

Thank you for teaching me how to stop, drop, and roll when I was just a child. Thank you for the fire prevention education. Thank you for spending you days teaching children and adults why fire safety is so important.

As the daughter of a firefighter, I have the utmost respect for the profession. I remember watching Ladder 49 and not wanting my dad to go on calls, but he still did. I remember the Christmas mornings and Thanksgiving dinners that were spent without my dad, because he had to go to work. I remember being so excited when someone asked me what my dad did. I would always answer with a proud, "My dad's a firefighter."

Thank you for staying strong. Being a firefighter is not an easy job. There is physical and emotional demands that can take a toll on you. If you become overwhelmed, don't hesitate to ask for help. PTSD, mental illnesses, and suicide are common in the firefighter community. Click here to learn more about suicide prevention for firefighters.

Thank you. Thank you for constantly running towards what others run from. Thank you for saving so many lives. Thank you for being an important part of the community. Firefighters, whether paid or not, make an incredible difference in our lives. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.