Posted by: |
Scott W. Cullen |
On: |
7/17/2006 |
ID: |
282 |
At OLA on 12/1/58? |
Born before or after 12/1/58? |
Where Lived on 12/1/58? |
No |
After |
n/a |
Please don't skip my letter when you see I wasn't (quite) born yet at the time of the fire !
I was born almost 2 years to the day afterwards, on November 30th 1960. I grew up in the south suburbs, Hazelcrest, Park Forest, Chicago Heights. I remember hearing about the fire from the time I was a little boy. Knowing how many children had been lost had a tremendous affect on me, and I think my being born so close to the date of the fire made me very cognizant of it also. In reading through the stories of both the survivors and others It really struck me what a huge impact that this fire had on a whole generation of us not only from the Chicago area, but across the United States and many parts of the world also.
In spite of the horrific tragedy, I believe the Lord has also caused much good to come, in many ways. First of all, it reformed almost all the nationwide school fire codes almost overnight (well, maybe not quite..), which I am sure probably saved many other children's lives, by having sprinkler systems and central station alarms installed at most schools. It brought a tremendous sense of paying attention to fire danger and being observant of one's surroundings to a whole generation of children. It made known just how fast a fire can kill, and brought home the importance of getting out of a building the second you saw any indication of fire. After reading some of these letters, I also believe that this tragedy pushed many of us into public safety careers, Firefighters, Police Officers, Paramedics, Dispatchers, Nurses, Doctors, etc. I started off as a firefighter but have now been a Fire/Medical Dispatcher for 22 years. I love my job, I love being able to help people. I remember thinking when I was very little that this type of incident should never happen to anyone again, especially innocent children. In closing I just want to say to those of you who lost brothers, and sisters, and sons and daughters, and friends :
Know, without a shread of doubt, that heaven is a REAL place, for the scriptures and the word of our Lord Jesus Christ testify that it is, and that children ARE innocent before Him, and that all those little souls went directly from the sufferings of this life, to be in heaven/paradise, with Him. (Luke 23:43). As adults however, we are no longer innocent. All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So you see, we have a choice. We can admit that we have sinned, and choose to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, as God's perfect remedy for sin..."For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9) I pray for all those that have suffered this loss, that you would choose to believe on Jesus, and one day be re-united with those that you loved. Pick up that bible that just sits on the shelf and read Paul's epistles, starting with Romans, and know the love, and the joy, and the power, of the truth...it is up to each one of us to choose...I pray you choose life !
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