From Joe McNeil: Captain Harwich Fire Department

Ladies and Gentlemen of APCO

Our nation has, once again, been put in the position of sitting in front
of televisions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week watching while our brothers
and sisters are digging one brick at a time to recover the remains of our
"brothers and sisters" in public safety. On December 3,1999 a fire in a
Worcester MA cold storage warehouse trapped and killed 6 fire fighters. We
will never forget the eerie scene of fire fighters digging by hand through
the rubble day after day and night after night until the remains of all
six fire fighters were recovered and properly laid to rest. Once again our
eyes are red from watching our fellow public safety family search for our
extended family and the citizens who were so cruelly taken from us at the
New York City World Trade Center.

During the long vigil for the Worcester fire someone provided us with a
visible showing of our concern and respect for those that have been taken
from us during that incident. Because it was the Christmas season the idea
of adding a single red light bulb blazing in a window to symbolize the
grief and respect for our fallen heroes was proposed. Many of you will
remember seeing the red candles in home through out the country as the
idea took hold.

It has been proposed that we, as a nation, rekindle those candles of
sympathy. Please consider going to your attic or garage where you keep
your holiday bulbs and place a candle in the window to remember those lost
in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
Use a Red light to memorialize the fire fighters, EMTs, and paramedics,
a Blue light to memorialize the police officers, and finally,
a White light to remember the innocent civilians
who were killed by these cowardly acts.

These lights would stay lit 24 hours a day, 7 days week until the last
person has been recovered. Of course it would be acceptable to leave a
candle lit longer than that time if, perhaps, a permanent reminder was
felt necessary by the family living behind the lights.

I would appreciate your consideration of this memorial symbol as we here
on Cape Cod and in Massachusetts are doing to show the world our resolve
as a public safety community and our nation.
Thank you so much.

Joe McNeil, Captain
Harwich, MA Fire Department  (retired)

Past President,
APCO International

PS: If you are inclined to, would you please forward this message to your
email list in the hopes of lighting up the world with this gesture.
Thank you.