Yes, Mr. Citizen, I’m that Redneck Volunteer Fireman. I chew tobacco and I
have one of those silly red lights on my car. I even blow my horn at you when
I’m going on a call. Sometimes my siren wakes you up at night and, at times,
you may have to wait at a light a little longer to let me by. But I’m not going to
apologize.

You complain about me wasting your tax money, but don’t understand when I
say I can’t tie equipment up pumping out your pool. You say I don’t know my
job, but when you smell smoke at night and call me, suddenly I’m an expert.
You complain because my boss lets me leave work for a fire and doesn’t let
you leave for your social club meeting but you forget the night the plant caught
fire and I saved your job.

You say I’m only in it for fun, but you fail to see my sickness and exhaustion
following a fire. You say I like seeing injuries and that death doesn’t bother me,
but how could you understand my sleepless nights because of the life I couldn’t
save. I pray that you and others in the community never need my services, and
all I ask in return is that you pray for me while I do my job. I’m not a perfect
person and I’ll never say I am, but, yes Mr. Citizen, I’m a Redneck Volunteer
Fireman, and pretty proud of it.

Author unknown