WASHINGTON — America’s volunteer firefighters brought a gift fit for a wartime President. At Thursday’s White House Rose Garden lunch for first responders, National Volunteer Fire Council Chair Steve Hirsch stepped to the Presidential Seal podium and spoke for the men and women who leave the dinner table when the tones drop.
“Mr. President, on behalf of three-quarters of a million volunteer firefighters across this nation, we want to present you with this helmet,” Hirsch said. He reminded the room who those volunteers are: “These are citizens who respond from their homes at night. They respond from their businesses during the day to protect their neighbors when their neighbors need help the most.”
Then came the blessing Patriots will not forget. “So while this helmet protects us in a fire or a wreck, we want it to protect you,” Hirsch said. “We want God to wrap his protective arm around you and use this helmet. Remember that we want you to be protected by our Lord.”
President Donald J. Trump took the helmet with a line that brought the garden to laughter and cheers. “You know, as he’s talking, I said, I could have used this in Butler,” the President said. “This would have been very helpful. I mean, I wish he gave it to me a little bit earlier.” He called the gift beautiful and thanked the volunteers. In the Golden Age, first responders do not get lectures from politicians who hate the badge — they get a seat at the White House table and a President who knows what Butler cost. Watch Rapid Response 47’s video.
