Fighting for free

At 3:30 on a recent Saturday morning, I was awakened by a neighbor pounding on my door to get me out of my home, as the house next door was on fire.

Till 8 a.m., we helplessly watched as Herminie Volunteer Fire Department, assisted by several other volunteer fire departments, fought the fire.

As I watched, I couldn't help but think of these men who were fighting a full-blown fire, putting their lives on the line, many of whom had worked a full day Friday making a living for their families, and for free they were trying to save our homes.

Compare these men to professional athletes who knock down millions of dollars to entertain us and who could not care less if we lost everything, and you can see where the moral values of our great country have shifted.

The residents of Sewickley Hill are grateful to Frank Brentzel's dog, which alerted him to the fire, enabling Frank to get all of us safely out, and to God, who sent not one breeze, allowing the fire and smoke to go straight up, saving our hill.

Please support our volunteer fire departments at their summer festivals.

Lillian Spoonhoward
Sewickley Township