The Nest — #firefighters

Once the glamour wears off, and reality sets in, it's not for everyone. You have to be able to deal with the long hours away from home, the midnight pager wakeup calls and the reality that your spouse may not come home from a shift or a call. Facebook fans were asked to share some struggles they've encountered in their firefighter marriages. Read the responses below. And remember, as tough as it is, spouse support means everything. Trust as a female firefighter in a new relationship. It’s hard to explain to the new boyfriend the closeness between me and my fellow...

by Anne Gagliano What does it take to be a good father?  Words elude me on this topic, for I am not a father but a mother.  I will, instead, quote my son, for who better to define a good father than the child of one? In our family, we have established a wonderful tradition with our sons: When we give each other a book (we are all avid readers), the giver must sign the book with a personal note.  This gesture turns an ordinary gift into a memorable keepsake.  On Father’s Day 2007, our son wrote these words in...

  By Anne Gagliano The divorce rate for firefighters is three times that of the general population, which is the highest rate in the nation, second only to that of the military. A functioning, long-term marriage in this profession is uncommon; a happy, thriving, intimate one is rare. My husband Mike and I are fortunate to have the latter. Over the years I’ve tried to fill the gaps that surface as he works to fulfill his calling as a firefighter. Some things I’ve learned by accident and some I’ve learned the hard way. Some aspects of the job are hard...

  Frank Palombo died on 9/11 after his Brooklyn unit, Ladder 105, was called to the World Trade Center. His son is set to carry on his legacy with New York City's Bravest. For two of the FDNY’s newest, being the Bravest runs in their blood — and they know only too well what that trait can cost. Thomas Palombo, 24, and Harry Ford Jr., 27, lost their firefighter fathers to the job just months apart from each other. On June 17, 2001, Ford’s namesake ran into a burning warehouse in Astoria with the Rescue 4 team. The elder Ford...

  Two young boys in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, spent their Sunday afternoon doing something special to show their appreciation for local law enforcement and firefighters. Aiden Best and Nathan Perry set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the police department. “I feel like you haven’t really seen anybody thanking any of them right now so this is for them,” Aiden told reporters. “We felt like the police have done so much for us and they have nothing in return,” Nathan added. “They just did it because it’s their job.” The boys used the $50 they raised to buy...