To: Department Of Justice, United States Fire Administration
This Petition is in Honor of Junior Fire Fighter Chris Kangas of Brookhaven Fire Department who died in the Line Of Duty in 2002.

Chris Kangas, was responding to his firehouse on his bicycle to answer a alarm on May 4, 2002 when he was struck by a motor vehicle. He was taken to Children's Hospital with multiple head trauma injuries and passed away early the next morning May 5th, he was 1 day shy of his 15th birthday. We're just devastated," said Jon Grant, President of the Brookhaven Fire Company. "He was just a great kid. I can't believe it happened. It's worse than a nightmare." Despite the fact that Kangas did not die in an actual fire, Brookhaven Fire Company will provide him with full honors at his funeral. "We'll bring out all the trucks and everything for the kid, Grant said."He died responding to a fire call as if he was on duty."
As many as 350 firefighters and emergency personnel from 52 departments with 66 pieces of apparatus responded to Kangas's "last call." One firefighter came from as far away as Massachusetts, driving eight straight hours for what he said was "the privilege" to offer his condolences.
March 30, 2006. Until this week, the U.S. Justice Department had denied the 14-year-old junior firefighter that proud title, literally devaluing the life of the Brookhaven boy who was struck and killed four years ago by a car while riding his bicycle to answer a fire alarm. Without the title, he was not eligible for federal death benefits and, most important to his mother and his fellow firefighters, not eligible to have his name inscribed on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. But Monday, after years of hearings and appeals, U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Marian Blank Horn said, in effect, he deserved to be treated better. "Christopher Kangas died 'in the line of duty' and was a 'firefighter' authorized to be at a fire scene and perform duties as part of a team engaged in the 'suppression of fires' at the time of his death," she wrote in Washington.
Last May of 2006, the Justice Department appealed an earlier ruling by federal appeals Judge Marian Blank Horn, who ruled in favor of naming Kangas, a firefighter. As a full-fledged firefighter, not only would Chris get his name on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md., his mother would receive federal death benefits worth more than $260,000. She has already received local and state benefits totaling about $270,000. The money is not what is important to anyone, it is having Chris's name added to the memorial in Emmitsburg, MD. This past week Chris Kangas's attorney and supporting members attended the hearing in Washington, DC. The court heard 15 minutes of testimony and has announced that it may take up to 90 days for a ruling on the case at hand.

This petition is for the "Brotherhood" of fire fighters across the nation. We need to unite together again and stand-up for our fallen brother fire fighter who can not fight this battle himself. If the Department of Justice rules that Chris Kangas is not eligible, this petition will be brought to the ceremony this year 2007 in Emmitsburg, MD. We are asking that members of our Nationwide Brotherhood post the link for the petition on their website's, on in-house bulletin boards, on in-house memo's and wherever else that Emergency Service personnel can find the link and sign the petition. Please email the link to any firehouse you know, any fireman that you know. Let's make sure we get our fallen brother's name on the memorial in Emmitsburg, MD.

With the support of the "Brotherhood" we can and will make a difference in someway. If the Department of Justice or anyone else in the government reads this with as many signatures as possible they have to do something about it. Our fallen brother wanted nothing else but to be a real fireman, let us make sure he gets the honor he deserves. He did while responding to a alarm, and Junior Fire Fighters are fire fighters, they might not enter the building, but they help on the scene and we have members who are over 18 yrs old who do not enter buildings who receive the benefits. They are fire fighters from the time their application is signed. Chris Kangas is a Fire Fighter.

His family, friends, brothers and all involved appreciate your support.


Sincerely,

The Undersigned

GO TO THE LINK BELOW TO SIGN THIS PETITION

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The Fire Fighter Chris Kangas Petition to Department Of Justice, United States Fire Administration was created by and written by Mark Sawinski (Remember_when010605@yahoo.com).

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check out this link there is a little Interactive Feature on the FDNY Firefighters' Memorial on that page take the time to look at that also it's worth the time.

Its been four years since Julie Amber-Messick started fighting for death benefits and the right for her son, Chris Kangas, a junior firefighter who died en route to a fire in 2002, to be named on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md.

But its only been about three months since shes known victory. Amber-Messick learned in March that federal appeals Judge Marian Blank Horn ruled in her favor, legally naming her son a firefighter.

Amber-Messick said she planned on attending the memorials dedication ceremony in October, knowing her son would be proud his name was etched among fellow firefighters.

Tuesday those dreams started vanishing as quickly as they arrived. The Kangas familys attorney, Frank Daly, informed the Daily Times that the Department of Justice has filed an appeal in federal court.

Unless the DOJ withdraws the appeal before October, Kangas name wont be listed on the memorial this year, and Amber-Messick wont receive federal death benefits worth $267,000. Shes already received local and state benefits worth $270,000.

"Its disappointing, but I cant say Im surprised," said Amber-Messick, who first started fighting the DOJ over death benefits in 2002.

She has lost those legal battles three separate times over the past three years. The DOJ claimed each time that the Kangas family was ineligible for benefits because Chris did not fall under federal "firefighter" definitions, since he was not permitted to "fight fires."

Horn ruled March 27 that federal definitions for a "firefighter" were much broader than the DOJ allowed.

Daly said that according to DOJ attorney Nancy Kim, the Department of Justice decided to appeal Horns ruling because its solicitor generals office needed more time to review court documents.

If the DOJ had not appealed by Saturday, he said Judge Horns ruling would have been permanent and the Department of Justice would not have had an opportunity to appeal later.

"Even though they had 60 days, I guess it wasnt enough time for the Department of Justice to hear from everyone they had to hear from," said Daly.

U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon, R-7 of Thornbury, who introduced legislation that passed April 6 in the House of Representatives recognizing Kangas legally as a firefighter, called the DOJs appeal "total stupidity."

"Its disappointing, but at the same time, outrageous that the bureaucrats just dont get it," he said.

"This is not about money; its about the status of Kangas and other junior firefighters affected by this. Hundreds of fire companies in America have sent me letters, telling me how happy they are that the (March 27) ruling was finally achieved. For the Department of Justice to leave the door open for an appeal doesnt make sense."

Weldon said he would use "whatever means" at his disposal to have Horns decision upheld, which apparently included calling on the Attorney General to become personally involved.

Daly said Horns decision could still remain active if the DOJs solicitor generals office advises the department to withdraw.

Without a withdrawal, however, he expected a decision on the appeal in about a yea

Folks let me explain why money comes into the factor, the mother dosen't care about it frankly but they way it is set up if they deny her the benifits he is also rejected from being included on the wall I ask you to share this with friends, family, coworkers, anyone that will listen.

Please write your congressal rep. and your senator "write your congressman/senator" ask them to be a cosponsor of HR 1456 (congress) or S 491 (senate):

[link] -- you can search here

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear" - Ambrose Redmoon
Help a Hero go to [link]

Firefighters Donate 'Shirts Off Their Backs' For Army

ERIC BROOKS
Firehouse.Com News

Liz Jackson was tired of the word 'hero' being bandied about in the aftermath of September 11. "If you mowed your lawn, you were a hero," she now parodies.

But the Washington native never doubted the heroic certitude of those who served in the armed forces. So out of curiosity, she asked military personnel who their heroes were.

The answer: medical responders, firefighters and police officers -- all of whom looked after people's families at home so that the troops could focus on their units abroad. When Jackson asked the same question to public safety professionals, they returned the warm sentiments; singling out folks in the armed services as those they most admired.

And so began Jackson's 'Hero to Hero' project that runs to this day. The program facilitates the donation of shirts "from the backs" of public safety workers to soldier units in Afghanistan and Iraq. By requirement, each shirt has been worn by a real-life 'hero' and displays a logo connoting the department’s locality.

Givers are encouraged to write messages of positive support on the shirts. Jackson's favorites include: "A lot of heart goes in these!" and "We’ve got your back!" The messages must be apolitical in tone -- a restriction proven overly-daunting for some contributors.

For example, Jackson received a shirt with a rather pointed take on the VISA advertising campaign. The punch line: "Dead Insurgent ... Priceless!" Another shirt displayed the message, "Kick their ass to save mine. Love, Grandma." Approval of the latter message is still being considered by Jackson and her core team of eight military family members who assist in running the program.

More recently, public safety professionals have attached business cards so the soldier recipients have contact information. Jackson's favorite message: "Come by the station when you get back ... dinner's on us!"

To gauge the troops' reception to the project, one need only look at its rapid growth since its 2003 inception when 800 shirts were donated mostly out of Washington. This year, more than 5,000 have been gifted from agencies ranging throughout the United States and Canada.

The National Tour Plan was adopted to generate pledges from departments across the U.S. Starting this May, Jackson will head out with military personnel once again as part of the drive. She plans to visit 55 cities and log around 10,000 miles. Says Jackson, "We collect shirts; shake hands; meet the people; no politics."

But she doesn't need numbers to know her efforts are appreciated. She has been greeted warmly by departments visited on her tours, and has heard warm stories of troops abroad receiving their shirts. She cited instances of soldiers trading among another to obtain shirts from the most local public safety agencies available. Other accounts involve troops hanging the shirts up in their rooms and raising them on flagpoles. She cited one soldier who wore his shirt underneath his uniform in 120 degree temperatures "to have the words next to his heart, not his chest".

Jackson plans on continuing the project until every soldier has returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq. However, this year's donation drive will conclude February 24th only to resume again September 11, 2006. Monetary donations and non-shirt contributions (such as caps, badges) are also accepted.

For further information on the program, visit the Hero to Hero website at HeroToHero.

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I am on the hunt for some images of an Inverted M-16 with helmet and boots with dog tags, for my brother as a gift, he wants to get a tattoo on his back in honor of his friend who died in Iraq if anyone has some links it would be greatly apprecated i am working on the design for him, while he is on the hunt for one for me relating to firefighting.

maine day is coming up tomarrow I am excited it is always fun. Today i went to an arawds ceremony and recived the spirt award from my chief for my always outshinibng and enthusiam for my job, kind of embarassed.

Lookign at my calender this weekend it's gonna be busy, big music festival saturday at the campus of UMaine on duty all day into the night into sunday, happy passover to anyone who is Jewish like me out there, i hope you have a healthy and happy 7 days with family and friends rember what this holiday is all about, share our faith with our friends educate people about what being Jewish means to you and remember what our ancestors wnet through beacuse fo who they are, and for those who aren't let your inner Jew out and find a family who you can sit and have Seder with, and remember have fun.

I had to submit this i think this is one of my more powerful pieces, with a little encouragement from other photographers i took the leap, this is a serious statement that reflects the feelings i have about my brother and how he is treated by our goverment and the US Army, how he is screwed out of pay, how his benifits are no existant and how poorly he is paid. I love my brother and proud he supports hsi country just wish the people runnign the show would use their brain cells.

Sumbited a new photo, Still learning my way around, hope to hear from some of you soon on what you think. working on getting images of my paintings together to show here, i have been glued to my camera more then my easel lately. Getting plans and stuuf together for Passover in a coupel weeks beeging for time off so i can go spend it with my girlfriend her first Passover, she is Catholic and wants to learn mopre about my faith.

Peace out
Chris

Well first entry of all time as anyone can see i am a night owl of sorts. I am a photographer, but still dabble in other forms of art, i am a studio art/theatre major at the University of Maine. I am a volly FF and EMT, you will see alot of this in my work, it is a large part of my life.