I Will Never Forget

Last Saturday, I participated in the 2^nd Annual Panama City Beach 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at Laketown Wharf. The event was sponsored by Panama City Beach Fire Rescue, had 268 participants, and raised more than $12,000 for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

At random, I chose Lt. Michael T. Russo, SQ-1, from the photographs on the registration table. Not having a safety pin, I carried his photograph with me.

I kept Lt. Russo’s photo after the event. I wanted to look him up. I wanted to find a way to remember and honor him. A quick Google search brought me to Legacy.com where page after page was filled with fond memories and tearful love letters written by those that knew him best (his loving wife and two sons, friends from school, and family that missed him dearly) and people who didn’t know him at all (people who’d received memorial bracelets or had chosen his photograph at random just like me!). Entries dated back to December 14, 2001.

After reading several pages, I began to cry. Tears for innocence lost, a love that will never come home, and senseless acts of violence.

Thank you, Lt. Russo, for making the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you to his wife, friends, and family, for so openly sharing your love and pain. And thank you to all the brave men and women who put their lives at risk every day to help make this world a more safe, peaceful, and just place.

I will never forget.