Support Needed for Township's Firefighters

I have seen the yard signs in almost every neighborhood proclaiming that the residents "Support Our Firefighters." I think that is great, and I do too. 

So quite naturally I figured that Plymouth Township is looking to pass a millage to raise funds to ensure that our firefighters have everything they need to ensure our safety. Well, now I am finding out that the powers that be in the Township of Plymouth do not want to to let the citizens of Plymouth Township decide. 

I am left wondering what their motives are. Politics would be a likely reason, and that is just wrong. Maybe it has something to do with negotiating a new contract for the firefighters. If this is the case, that would be sad as well. 

I just have a problem with politics or negotiating a contract coming before ensuring the safety of the citizens of Plymouth Township, as well as the firefighters who put their lives on the line every single time they show up for work. 

Understanding that an agreement with the city of Plymouth is coming to an end for providing fire protection at the end of the year, it is incumbent upon the Township Board of Trustees to come up with a solution for this problem. It is their job, and I am very concerned that they are not getting this done, at least not to my satisfaction. They have had plenty of time to address this issue, and the fact that this comes down to crunch time is just disgusting, and reeks of the kind of politics that people are sick and tired of.     

When I think about what is happening here, I can't help but reflect upon the tragic events that played out in New York on that day in September of 2001. I can remember the images of firefighters walking into the World Trade Center to do what they do every time the alarm sounds.

You could see concern on their faces, maybe even a little fear, but what you did not see was any hesitation at all about going into that building to save as many lives as they could.  I remember seeing the firefighters that walked away from the building.  Totally spent, covered in soot, and a look of intense grief on their faces, because they knew that they had just lost many of their honored fraternity that day. 343 firefighters and paramedics lost their lives that day doing a job that has all too often been taken for granted by people such as myself. 

I remember in particular, one day in the week after 9/11 seeing firefighters in Livonia standing in an intersection in the pouring rain, collecting donations for the families of our fallen heroes, and there were not many cars who passed without making a donation, and rightfully so. We were painfully reminded by that tragedy of the courage of our first responders, and I hope we never forget that every single day they punch in, something very bad can happen to them.  Our first responders and their families know this, and yet they show up every single day, and when that alarm sounds, they go forth with no hesitation, putting their lives on the line for us.    

I can't help but feel that if the date today were maybe Nov. 6, 2001, instead of Nov. 6, 2011, we wouldn't be talking about cuts to the fire department, or why we can't get a millage on the ballot to properly fund them. I think rather, that when asked, they would tell us what they need to keep us safe, and that we, as a grateful citizenry would give it to them.