Today we begin to say goodbye to F/F Augusto "Augie" Acabou & Wayne "Bear" Brooks Jr.

Some will tell us to celebrate their lives, but their lives were too short. Others will say celebrate their accomplishments, but they could have accomplished so much more. We should celebrate their love. Yes, but they had so much more love to give.

Celebrate their spirit - - - I have no “but” for this. It is their spirit we should celebrate. The spirit that called them to become firefighters.

That spirit is unique in this world. Across the globe, all who follow the call of this spirit fight a force of nature to protect innocent lives.

Bear & Augie were not showmen. They were quiet guardians of

the innocent & those in danger. They were exceptional human beings.

Their spirit is possessed only by humans. No other creature runs towards fire. Even then, only a chosen few run into the flames, challenging nature out of control.

These two quiet guardians were taken from us suddenly. Their families & friends had no time to begin adjusting, no time to say goodbye.

The only thing that can fill the void left behind is their spirit.

The spirit of the quiet guardians of the innocent we call firefighters.

Farewell brothers. May God watch over your families & all those you left behind.

May your spirit inspire all the quiet guardians who continue to protect the innocent.