FireCareers.com 9-11 Patch Project Bus Tour

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On New Year's Day, the ten year remembrance began with the 9/11 Rose Float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The torch has now been passed to a national tour being undertaken by FireCareers.com and the 9/11 Patch Project to make sure "We Will Never Forget".

The FireCareers.com bus began their Manhattan to Manhattan tour in Manhattan Beach, California and will end in New York City on September 11th. This journey across the United States began in January to spread awareness of the September 11th anniversary. "We're meeting some great folks, we're uncovering treasures, we're getting to see memorials, firefighter memorials that are very moving, very inspirational," expressed Co-Owner of FireCareers.com, Craig Freeman. Participants will log thousands of miles and make hundreds of stops in 32 states before September 11th.

In 1982, a fire captain and his wife started Perfect Firefighter Candidate, also known as FireCareers.com, to help firefighters get jobs. According to Freeman, FireCareers.com advertises all fire service job positions ranging from entry-level volunteer positions to chief officer positions. "But our main focus is for the entry level firefighter recruit," said Freeman. The website also features blogs from industry professionals and contact mentoring.

Craig Freeman stated that the site is free for anyone other than if using it for test information, which has a membership fee of $5.00 a month. "We're not driven by the dollar as much as we're driven by the success of our members," stated Freeman." Test information shows which departments are accepting applications. A full time staff of three works to constantly update the more than 2,500 jobs posted on the website and send them directly to members email, phones or social accounts.

Cadet Eric Guzman, with Class 13 of the Rio Hondo Wildland Fire Academy said, "It's very helpful. The availability of jobs, being able to search where you want, the different states and just the amount of information they have available is just fantastic." "Anybody who's really trying to get a job out there just have patience, give it time and FireCareers is a great way to go. It gives you a lot of open doors and opportunities," added Cadet Brody Hoelscher, also with Class 13 of the Rio Hondo Wildland Fire Academy.

The Manhattan to Manhattan bus tour has partnered with Brett Hill to raise awareness across the country for the 9/11 Patch Project, which was originated in 2001. More than 6,000 departments in 22 countries currently wear patches on their uniforms from the 9/11 Patch Project. However, the tour is working to get the word out to other departments across the country.  At all of their stops, they recruit new fire departments to wear the patches. "A good example is Bullhead Fire Department where they want to have the patch on the uniforms, they want to have the decals on their apparatus," claimed Hill.

Net proceeds for all of the patches and decals sold on the tour are going to three charities:    

• FDNY Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA)  
• Terry Farrell Fund    
• Feal Good Foundation

At every stop, the tour takes a photo. They plan to give a memorial photo album to each of their three charities, which Hill hopes to see at the New York City Fire Department's (FDNY) museum located at Ground Zero.

As their journey continues, the tour is still adding stops at fire stations, fire academies and EMS providers. To request a stop, contact them at either www.firecareers.com or www.9-11patchproject.org. A request can also be sent on the Never Forget 9/11 fan page on Facebook.



Author:Barbara Brooks - Video, Renee Marquart - Text