Firefighters Provide Patriotic Welcome To The Islands

by Jeff Lysiak

Looking to arrange a spectacular greeting for Operation Open Arms honorary guests Lance Corporal Christian Brown and Brown's mother, Lyn Braden-Reed as they arrived at the Sanibel Causeway last Thursday afternoon, Tim Barrett, training officer for the Sanibel Fire & Rescue District, recalled how the arrangements were made to make a very patriotic and memorable welcome to the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.

"On March 20, I received a call from Captain John "Giddy Up" Bunch about the upcoming visit from two combat wounded Marines," recalled Barrett. "John is the founder of Operation Open Arms, a non-profit organization helping to provide U.S. service men and women visiting Southwest Florida every conceivable benefit during their two-week combat leave or return from a foreign duty station."

Bunch asked the Sanibel firefighters if they could arrange something special for the veteran's arrival to the islands.

"Nothing would give us a great pleasure than to help honor a wounded serviceman," said Barrett.

Members of both the Sanibel Fire & Rescue district and Iona-McGregor Fire Department gathered on Causeway Island A with a pair of ladder trucks. Borrowing a 30-foot American flag from the City of Fort Myers Fire Department, the two companies planned to hang the stars and stripes across the causeway road. But that task may not be as simple as it sounds.

According to Barrett, it's a rather complicated process:

Step 1 - Park two 75-foot ladder trucks on each side of the road just pas "A" span

Step 2 - Rig ropes to the top of each ladder truck (for raising 30-foot flag)

Step 3 - Stop traffic

Step 4 - Raise flag without letting it touch the ground and secure top of flag.

Step 5 - Realize flag needs to go up a lot higher to keep away from big trucks

Step 6 - Stop traffic (again)

Step 7 - Secure additional lines to bottom of flag and raise ladders to their maximum height

"After a dozen of support honks, cheers and pictures from cars, trucks and bicycles, we were ready for our honored visitors," said Barrett.

Both fire departments lined up by their ladder trucks, snapped to attention and saluted out guest as he passed. Preceded, of course, by a large contingent of civilian motorcycles, a Lee County Sheriff's Office motorcycle escort and several fire department and law enforcement vehicles.

The experience left Barrett, and all those who witnessed the huge American flag hanging above the entrance to the islands, with a warm and patriotic feeling.

"It left me with a great sense of honor and pride," he said. "It's the least we could do, considering all he has done for our country. we should all be saluting our troops."