What can I say that hasn’t been said already about the nine fire fighters that lost their lives in Monday night’s fire at the Sofa Superstore?  Do you feel like someone has punched you in the stomach?  I just can’t seem to catch my breath and believe this has happened.  I think we have grown so accustomed to these things happening somewhere else, like VA. Tech tragedy, the Sago mining disaster in West Virginia, and of course 9/11.  But this one has happened right here, right in our beloved Charleston.  And we can’t turn the TV and radio off or not look at ther newspaper because for alot of us, the site of this colossal tragedy is on the way to work or home for us.  We have to drive right by it everyday.

Yesterday, after covering the tragedy all day while I was on the air and talking to you, the listeners, about how you feel about the fire, I felt compelled to do something.  I got in my car and drove to a florist and got 9 red flowers.  The florist arranged the flowers with such reverance because they knew why I was getting them,  that alone was enough to make me break down.  I got back in my car and drove to the site of the fire.  I parked at the Pizza Hut that is very near the fire site.  I walked in asked the manager of Pizza Hut if it was okay if I parked my car there so I could lay flowers at the site.  She, again with the greatest reverance, said “of course”.  I started walking towards the fire site and nothing could of prepared me for what I was about to see.  I could smell the burned building as I approached.  There were policeman and fireman everywhere, they all looked so sad, but still doing their jobs with such determination.  When I approached a policeman was standing next to the yellow tape that was put up as a barrier and I asked him where I could put the flowers.  He was very sweet and told me that the memorial that people had started was on the sidewalk in front of the store.  He looked at me and then at the flowers and smiled and the lump in my throat got alittle bigger. Their were port-a-lets set up and they were blocking the building abit so when I rounded them and got the full view of the burned out building it was a moment I will never forget.  What you see it on TV, in the papers, or on the net, it does not compare to what it’s like to see it in person.  When I saw it in person yesterday, really faced it, instantly I was in tears and alittle sob came out of me.  I felt embarrassed because I hadn’t planned on getting upset, I just wanted to bring my flowers, show my respect, and leave.  But sometimes in life emotions bubble up that you just don’t expect and my reaction to this tragedy was absolutley from the core of me.  A Red Cross woman came over and hugged me and said “you just keep praying for them hon, just keep praying.”  I thought it was the nicest gesture, but I also felt alittle guilty for receiving that hug because their alot of other people out there that need hugs more than me.  I walked back to my car after laying those flowers down and felt such an immense sadness.  I got in my car and called my in-laws.  I needed to say something to someone I love very much.

My father-in-law is a Battalion Chief for the City of Hampton, Virginia.  He retired about a year and half ago after serving for over 30 years.  I have always felt such pride in what he did for a living, but you know I really didn’t understand the sacrifice that his vocation called for at times.  Now after what has happened here in Charleston, I am just beginnning to understand what these brave men and women face everytime they are called upon.  So I thanked my father-in-law and told him I love him.  And now I would like to do the same for:

Billy Hutchinson

Mike Benke

Louis Mulkey

Mark Kelsey

Brad Baity

Michael French

James “Earl” Drayton

Brandon Thompson

Melven Champaign

Thank you, thank you for keeping all of us safe, for making the ultimate sacrifice in doing so…I  love you, we all do.

God bless you and your family and friends.