Proudly serving those who serve

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4 May 2026

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A poem by Captain S Pelphrey 

​I walk a line, a thin red line that few will ever understand.
It's a thin line filled with blood, sweat, heartache, pain and lots of tears.
It can be rewarding, and it can also be sadly tragic.
I walk a line where brothers and sisters stand side-by-side, arms reached over each other’s shoulders confidently assured that it’s our meaningful bond that holds this line.
That thin line can be damaged, bent, scratched, taken for granted and even forgotten about.
But that line, that thin red line is always there and will always and forever prevail.
Although it can sometimes be burnt, it will never be tore down or completely destroyed… neither by man nor nature.
It’s a thin red line that burns deep within the hearts of young and old firefighters and at some point has affected everyone’s life.
Not many will ever truly understand this line.
Few have ever walked it. Most never will.
So until you have walked a mile on that line, please empathize and don't criticize.
We walk on a line, a thin line… a thin red line.
 
By Captain S Pelphrey, Salyersville Fire Department, KY
 
Source: Fire Fighter lovers

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