According to surveys done by the National Fire Protection Association, as of 2009, there were 1,148,100 firefighters working in the United States. Of these firefighters, 335,950 are career firefighters (meaning they receive a paycheck for their service) while 812,150 are volunteers. These 1,148,100 firefighters operate out of 30,165 fire departments all over the U.S. and risk their lives every day and night to protect our communities from disaster after disaster.

Our society often glamorizes the profession through the television drama or through the hunky stripper that dresses up as a firefighter to get everyone all hot and bothered, but this creates a culture of apathy towards the heroes that work night and day to keep our communities safe and our citizens healthy. Very few of us will ever understand the terror of barreling into a burning building to find someone trapped inside. We will never know what it's like to crawl through such intense heat, weighed down with pounds of equipment for a complete stranger. And we should be thankful everyday that some are paid-- and many more are not-- to do this for us.

My grandfather spent 37 years of his life doing just that. My mom and her siblings were basically raised in the fire house, sliding down the Fireman's pole and going to the firefighter's conventions every year. I even remember playing with his old helmets and badges when I would spend summers at my grandparents' house growing up, so I have grown to respect and appreciate those that make the decision to be our communities' protectors.

This respect and appreciation is so often absent in our communities, which is why I was so excited to surprise my grandfather this week with dinner at Backdraft in Cleveland, Mississippi. Backdraft is owned and operated by a woman whose son and brother both serve as volunteer firefighters in Cleveland. The restaurant is themed and decorated to honor firefighters for their service. The atmosphere coupled with the outstanding food and bar create the perfect night out to show our heroes how much we appreciate them. We received a firefighters discount on our meal and a personal greeting from the owner of the establishment, and my grandfather was pleasantly surprised, to say the least.

In our current climate of distrust of public servants, it is very easy to dehumanize individuals. Yes, some systems in our society are corrupt, oppressive, and even racist, but it is important to recognize that the jobs of police officers and firefighters are no easy task. For most, these careers require genuine sacrifice and care for the community, so I am grateful for the service of my grandfather and the many other firefighters in our country.