This page has been dedicated to our Fire Chaplains:
What is the role of a Chaplain?
The Chaplain provides spiritual, physical, and emotional support to firefighters, their families, and citizens involved in emergency incidents. His duties and responsibilities include:
-Attends fire/EMS training sessions and responds to incidents for aid to members and citizens.
-Keeps the Chief informed of the mental and physical ability of members to function effectively.
-Provides intervention and referrals of professionals and institutions, on personal and work-related problems to members and their families, as requested.
-Conducts debriefing and defusing sessions
-Arranges transportation for family members to and/or from the hospital after emergency incident scenes.
-Maintains a positive working relationship with the department members.
-Assists and supports Incident Command on emergency scenes.
-Represents the department at various meetings and public events.
Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson has been with the Priceville Fire Department since 2004. In 1993, he became an Ordained Deacon through Central Park Baptist Church in Decatur. This enabled him to meet requirements of the Federation of Fire Chaplains, and qualify as a Lay Chaplain. Steve also serves on the Board of Priceville Fire Department, the decision-making body of the department who handles the affairs outside of the fire department. Steve also serves as the Chaplain and Board Member for the Morgan County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, an association of the 22 fire departments in Morgan County. Finally, he is part of the Morgan County Honor Guard, something that will be explained later in this column.
Morgan County Honor Guard
Steve believes strongly in the Morgan County Honor Guard. The pictures above are from the recent funeral of a retired fire chief. Their website says it best:
"Our Honor Guard represents the MCAVFD at a variety of ceremonies. The Honor Guard participates in parades and funerals for current and retired firefighters, both within Morgan County and honoring firefighters of other departments and counties upon request, and other public service personnel. The Honor Guard can also participate at other ceremonies to include dedications and flag ceremonies."
Anyone interested in volunteering with the honor guard should contact them at:
[email protected]
Fire Chief's Prayer by unkown author
I am called to many duties lord
and now I've been called home.
I've had to leave the ones I love
To stand before your throne.
I'll not complain, its not my way
But there are some things I'll ask.
And please , Lord, grant them to me
For the loved ones I hold fast.
I dare to ask because I know
How you've blessed in the past.
I've learned to trust in your grace, O Lord
That's how I've come this far.
So now, O God, I humbly pray
Hear this Fire Chief's prayer.
Bless my wife and family -- so often left alone,
They knew where I was going and Trusted you to bring me home.
Well, now I'm home and wait for them
Keep them within the faith -- that one day,
Someday, we'll be together in this place.
And O dear God, bless my men
I trained them as best I could.
I tried to do your will with them
and lead them as you would.
I need to know your with them Lord
Or else how can I stay
And peacefully enjoy this place of endless day.
This heaven where there is no night
No fire to kill and burn
I guess that's why its now my rest,
my place, my turn.
And Lord, be with my community
And keep it safe as it can be
For all its folks are special, and very dear to me.
They are all my friends, and by your grace
I served them as best I could.
So hear this Fire Chief's prayer, O Lord
And grant it please -- I already knew you would.
Amen