This is a story that I have put off to long. Yesterday the glass broke (I'll get back to this) and I new I needed to write this. Lets start off with a little background. I was a Paramedic, certified law enforcement officer in three states, a federal Officers, Volunteer and paid firefighter, Haz-Mat instructor, ACLS, BLS etc. so I wear many hats. However since I was very young I had a enjoyment for photography. It was a why to keep history as it really happened. It was 1997, I was already had many submissions in many publications., I wanted to document the best of what we do. I received a call from Joe Belsito, He was already established with experience in publications and had a vision. He asked me if I would be interested in sending stories and pictures from this area to him for his new venture. I wanted to know one thing, what was going to be the "MEAT" of this publications? The answer locked me in! Joe was going to put together a publication that showed the best of First Responders, Fire, Rescue, EMS, High Tech Rescue, Air rescue, every area of the 1st responder. He was going to start 1stResponderNews. This was the days of loading film in your camera and writing a story and sending it priority mail to see if it will get used. I was thrilled to finally be part of something I believed in, and the Publisher had the same drive. Lets show all what it is really like. Lets be able to draw from each others to learn and to experience. January 1998 Volume 1 Number 1 Debut edition, 1st Responders is born and I had the cover. I got a call from Kathy , who I feel like we have been life long friends. 1st Responders was going to set up a table at the Fire Expo in Syracuse New York and they asked if I would run their table? My son was 4 years old (He is now married and is much older). he had never slept any place but home. Kathy said it was ok to take him. They sent me this amazing 1st responder banner to put up on the table (I so wish I had that for my remembrance wall) and boxes and boxes of 1stResponder Newspapers to hand out. So my son packed his Chickie and we were off. What an experience to share with my young son, But to meet the hundreds of people who stopped by and were so impressed, and I think, they new 1stResponderNews was going to be something special, they were correct!

You see thanks to Joe and this paper, I've been blessed with so many memories. Over twenty years later Kathy remembered this and actually we talked about it over a phone why discussing something else.

1998 these bones were a lot younger. 2AM in the middle of a snow storm, 100 degree heat, ice storms, it didn't matter I rolled to get the story and pictures and 1st Responders printed only quality photos and stories showing what they all dealt with. We always showed the best of what these men and women do.

This one part of 1st Responders allows for others in the same field to see how another company may handle a situation they had. Maybe companies or training officers get an idea from a picture and build on it. 1st Responders gives this opportunity every issue.

For Joe and his staff it wasn't always easy. They went through different people, maybe they didn't fit into the what 1st Responders tries to provide for all inn this field..

The paper developed columns covering all types of situations or thoughts that may come up. This was an idea to assist everyone in the field. I remember one of my great friends, and one of the most knowledgeable Paramedics I every new. Robert Lutz talking about pre hydration. Like a slap on the side of the head. We all think about hydrating during the incident, but, what an idea, getting some extra hydration on board before you draw upon everything your body has to offer. These are the kind of articles that 1st ResponderNews tries to provide. The mission again, I want to show and help 1st Responders! It never stops, it just grows.

Back to the broken glass. My debut edition paper is framed. The other day the glass broke, and I thought of how that glass was like life. We have had ideas and thoughts and maybe put them off, and they never got completed. Worse, in the line of work, the last call answered could always be the next one we go on. So I wanted to make sure 1st responders and its staff got the recognition from all the brothers and sisters in the world of 1st responders. The true front line of this country. I will jump to various stories as we go through this article, but I feel it shows the point I'm trying to make. I was a Haz-Mat safety officer at a parking ramp collapse in New York City July 2001 two months before 9-11 attack. I got to work with the Haz Mat units, the Ten House, Squad 288 F.D.N.Y. and many ranking officers. A gas truck drove to the top of the ramp and the levels pancaked on top of dozens of cars. The units where there everyday until we could confirm no people were in any vehicles. I got to laugh and talk with so many of these quality highly trained persons. i remember one conversation, it can be shared in the fire house in whole, but in this story, will just mention the part of the story when one of the firefighters told me "notice the name on all the dumpsters when they finally arrive" (I got it). But, most important they all brought me house shirts. I cherish them, for two months later some of these, many of these heroes were gone. My haz-Mat shirt ripped during an EMS call, ironically the guys gave me two ten house shirts. One is so worn out, the other I will only wear twice a year to remember, (I would like an address to send this worn shirt back to the Ten House were it came, before 9-11, I just cant throw it out). Back to 1st Responders, Joe Belsito didn't just print one paper and that was it. He was here to respect and show that we give it all, and hundred and hundreds give it all. He started the tattoo photos in almost every edition of the art work that all fields of 1st responders designed to NEVER FORGET! Every year since, 1st Responders has the 9-11 edition. When you open 1st Responders you always find in extreme Bold Print In memory of those who gave all! The paper grew and grows with time. Women in the field. Generation photos, Old equipment, All in the Family , cartoon, food recipes, Memories, Memorial Board, patch of the month, it just keeps growing for the better. Joe, Kathy, Lindsey, Ashley, Nicole, and the whole staff of 1st Responders work like a perfect oiled machine. They have not only maintained the "MEAT" of what the paper was conceived to be, they have grown and changed with time, but for the positive.

Any company, if your a sole proprietor, or a huge corporation, I urge you to think about taking an add for your product in 1stt ResponderNews. 1st Responders is viewed by thousands and thousands who are in the field of what you have developed or sell. More important, this is a news source that was and is developed to honor those that come when we call for help, willing to give it all for others. If you have a product that your proud of that helps in any of these areas, wouldn't you want it displayed in a source that is respected for it's honesty and factual reporting, and is read and viewed by those that would want to purchase your equipment? . I will give you an example, I've been in this 1st responders field for almost 45 years, if you have a quality EMS rescue knife, that is multi purpose, and its clip holds up to the consent on and off attachment, I'd try it. If it is what it claims to be, id show it to others, who then show it to others and you business grows. If you have a rescue jacket that a person 6'3 200 pounds can easily put on, is wind, and water repellent and highly visible when hit by light beams, I'd try that, etc. When I see or use a piece of equipment in use and adds to the good of the incident scene, I try to work it in my story.

Example, a front cover of 1st Responders,, SOLO ATTACK a Blitz Fire being used. The story wasn't to sell this product. The story was about how a Chief made a call to use the high water volume of a blitz fire on the ground only using one fire fighter to free up two others that would had been needed if a large hose line was pulled instead. 1st Responders News, a story that may send a idea to another company who may be short staffed and now has an idea of how to assist with their problem. Thanks to wanting to watch 1st Responders grow because it was showing the amazing training and quality of 1st responders, I went to more and more calls, and I got to become friends with amazing people like past Fire Chief Jim Clewell (R.I.P) Barry Kobrin (R.I.P.) so many chiefs at Wrights Corners, but none like JJ "Commander" McKnight who has provided so much advancement for his company and himself. I am honored to say I was a volunteer with his father. Retired Sheriffs like Captain Elliott, Lt May. You see when you get to know these people, and they realize what 1st Responders News is, they work with you. Joe and the staff would never allow the paper to turn into a scandal sheet, and i would never use a picture that doesn't serve the story and 1st Responders in a positive light. A Motorcycle vs a huge farm tractor DOA, art shop and the motorcycle driver is removed and the two vehicles are left. That's is all you need to tell the story. Sometimes, we get a rescue in action shot, that shows what we do. Do you realize how many 1st responders have never scene some of the things we have had to live with over the decades of doing what we do? They stay with us. So those photos are part of the call and show various techniques and difficulties in trying to handle a scene. That could lead to a new hire or a rookie to ask, what's it like? 1st Responders, Joe Belsito, Kathy, Lindsey the complete staff that's what they give us, what's it like, the good, the bad, the worse, but always about the best of the 1st responder.

I am so proud that I have been part of this publication since the conception. I have my memory wall debut edition and countless issues and covers, I have patches and shirts (If there is someone at the Ten House F.D.N.Y. I'd like to send that shirt back home), As I said, these bones are getting old. 27 years, I don't roll on the calls like I did. I would ask, if any agency EMS, Fire< Rescue, Haz-Mat, Law Enforcement, any type of 1st responders has a challenge coin they could send so I could add it to my memory wall (Stephen Wallace C.C.Memory P.O. Box 761 Wilson, New York 14172 thank you, I'd be honored) the wall.

As I look at each patch, shirt, photo, cover of 1st Responders, I remember each one represents the best of the best, our real front line, those that help the unknown, risk what ever they must, and these are the units that Joe Belsito and 1st responders has made a mission of never forgetting or take for granted of. This paper will always honor, and do its best to show what hardships, or happiness that we all go through being a 1st Responder. All of this from a glass that broke on the front of my framed debut edition of 1st Responders January 1998. Thank You Joe for that phone call. If 1st Responders ever gets a challenge coin please keep my address handy. I'll end this with saying I feel like 1st Responders has been a part of my life that has allowed me to do what ever I could to show the best and the hardships we all face in the course of our duty. I feel like Joe, and Kathy, sorry Lindsey I watched you grow up over the decades, a quality professional, but not there at the start but man your there and doing amazing things now. But with all of that, I feel like were all friends. In full discloser to all, we have never meant, I hope, like the broken glass, will get to meet and have a coffee before any of our final calls. This is what 1stRespondersNews is to me.