A few days ago I had my Thanksgiving meal with my family and one of the traditions is everyone talking about what they are thankful for. To tell the truth, every day I come to work as the Fire Marshal I am thankful for many things. The first is the professional men and women of the Gallup Fire Department who are dedicated to serving our community. I could never ask for a better set of brothers and sisters who wear the same uniform that I do.

The second item I am thankful for is the position I have — the ability it gives me to serve this amazing community. As the Fire Marshal I oversee the Fire Prevention Office staff and we are responsible for many things, from fire inspections, public education, school fire prevention, community risk reduction, and fire investigations. Many times when I am called to the scene it is a major event and a damage has been done to someone’s home or business. Many times people say that firefighters see people on the worst day of their life.

Even though that may be true, it also allows us to see people at their best even when it’s their worst day. Many times a year I see how neighbors and our community come together to help someone in need. If you watch the news and see what is happening in the world it may make you believe that only bad things happen, but there is good in this world.

There is so much good in our community. There is good here in Gallup. I am truly thankful that I get to serve the people in this community and am honored to be a part of the community that comes together. That is what makes Gallup so special.