Firefighters are some of the most important members of any community. They are willing to put their lives on the line to rescue others, and they provide communities with a sense of safety. However, not all of their good deeds involve rescuing people and saving lives. Sometimes, members of the fire department make smaller gestures to improve the lives of their community members.
The firefighters at the Norfolk, Virginia fire department planned an incredible surprise for Jeannette Carty, a Norfolk resident whose late husband was a member of the fire department for more than 30 years. Her brother and nephew also worked for the city’s fire department. On Jeannette’s 100th birthday, she opened the door to see all the fire department’s members standing in a line outside her home to wish her a happy birthday.
The men and women at the fire department brought her a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers as a birthday gift, and they gave her a round of applause for her and her family’s contributions to the community. On their Facebook page, the firefighters posted, “Yesterday, Mrs. Jeannette Bear Carty turned 100 years old. Battalion 3, Engine 11, Recruit class 155 and a few members from training showed up on her doorstep to wish her a happy birthday.”
The fire department’s surprise brightened Jeannette’s day, and she had a huge smile on her face during the whole encounter. Their Facebook post has gone viral, receiving hundreds of comments praising the Norfolk firefighters and sharing similar stories about the kind gestures of firefighters in other cities. Moments like this are a great reminder that there are always many people in a community who want to support others out of the kindness of their hearts.
