Serving others: a time honored tradition
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| The actions of firefighters, police officers, and "just plain folk" was perhaps no more evident than when fire struck the Winecoff Hotel located at Ellis and Peachtree Streets |
Through out the history of the United States, helping others during their time of need has been a time honored tradition. Perhaps at no other time does this desire to help us show forth as it does during times of disaster – be it fire, tornado, or flood. Perhaps one of the best examples I can think of occurred on December 7, 1946 when a fast moving fire ravaged the Winecoff Hotel located at 176 Peachtree Street (at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Ellis Street). By the time the flames had been extinguished, 119 people had perished – many falling to their deaths when makeshift sheet ropes broke.
Even as firefighter's were still battling the flames, citizen's of the “city to busy to hate” were already coming to the aid of both hotel guest rescued from the fire as well as firefighters themselves. One of the best examples of this – in my opinion – was Georgia Tech student Al Hardy. Hardy, who was headed home after a date, heard of the fire and went directly to the hotel to photograph the unfolding tragedy. Not too long after he arrived, he saw a police officer and firefighter at the nearby Rexall drug store who were reading the emergency contact card on the door of the pharmacy and discussing calling the manager to open the store so emergency workers could have access to first aid supplies. Hardy approached the two men and suggested that they force entry into the store. When they refused, Hardy took the initiative and kicked the door open himself. Shortly thereafter, the store was converted into a temporary aid station where guests with minor injuries could be treated and await word on their loved ones.
Hardy's action, although memorable, weren't the only acts of compassion that cold December morning. Gray Ladies (see footnote below), other Red Cross volunteers, and members of a local Boy Scout troop who made coffee and sandwiches for firefighter and other rescue workers. The Boy Scouts set up makeshift coffee stands on the sidewalk in front of the Rexall store while the Gray Ladies made sandwiches inside.
While there might be some who was disagree with this statement, I think that same spirit of service is still alive and well today. While the Gray Ladies are but a memory today, the service they provided is still found in today's Red Cross. Today assistance would be rendered by a Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team (DAT) comprised of volunteers that can evaluate damage to the structure(s), provide temporary shelter, and assist with providing first aid. And, depending on the magnitude of the fire or disaster, it can be designated a “DR” (Disaster Response) or “DRO” (Disaster Response Operation) which will bring even more personnel and resources to the scene.
Another group that epitomizes the spirit of services are the Amateur Radio operators – affectionately known as Hams. In times of need, they are able to provide communications when other forms might be inoperable or otherwise unavailable. Perhaps one of the best examples of this occurred in late August 2005 as Amateur Radio operators monitored Hurricane Katrina as it approached New Orleans and were prepared to be a vital communications link once she made landfall. And this assistance wasn't just from amateurs in the Gulf coast area. Amateur Radio (and Red Cross) volunteer Bob Joplin was manning his radio in Oklahoma City, OK when he picked up a distress call from people trapped on a roof in New Orleans, LA. Thanks to his fast actions, they were rescued without injury!
I hope that something that I have written here might have piqued your interest in volunteering or, at least, obtaining a little more information. Here are some web addresses:
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
American Radio Relay League: http://www.arrl.org/
Volunteers of America: http://www.voa.org/
Until next time . . .
1The Gray Ladies were Red Cross volunteers who provided personal services of a non-medical nature to patients in hospitals, other health care facilities, and private homes. This included writing letters, tutoring, reading, and shopping for their patients.
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