That I may serve others

March 10, 2008 09:00 am

— “That I may serve others.”
Those are the words on the Pine Township Engine Company logo.
They’re words by which Brad Holmes lived. And they’re the words by which he died.
The alarms go off and they’re there. Dinners, holidays, middle of the night, it doesn’t matter. Freezing cold or searing heat, they’re needed, and they go.
Holmes was one of those selfless people who answered the call regardless of what else was happening. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Joe Holmes, Pine’s assistant chief, and his older brother, Chris, Pine’s chief.
A member of Pine Township Engine Company since age 18, the 21-year-old Slippery Rock University student certainly had busy days, but he made time to serve his community.
On Feb. 29 Holmes answered what would be his final fire call. At the scene of a house fire at 132 Garden Ave., Holmes and fellow Pine firefighter Scott King did what firefighters do: They put their own safety aside to try to save a life.
The woman who was trapped inside was Patricia Andrews-Smith. She died in the fire. King was treated and released from Mercy Hospital’s burn unit the day of the fire, and Holmes remained there in critical condition with burns over 75 percent of his body until Wednesday morning when he died.
Later that same morning, the alarms went off again. Firefighters will tell you they’re a brotherhood. Local volunteer fire departments, well aware of the tragedy that had befallen a brother, again put their own safety aside. Pine Township trucks responded, too, although the firefighters inside were from other departments, which have been covering Pine’s station since Holmes’ death.
With heavy hearts, their work continued that day, their commitment to serving others unwavering.
A sadness permeates the town as well.
Today Holmes will be laid to rest. A procession after his funeral gives people a chance to line the streets and pay their respects to him.
And it gives them the chance to show their support and appreciation to Holmes’ brothers across the country, who live by the words by which Holmes died: That I may serve others.