Reminisce Extra – September 2019

26 REMINISCE.COM * SEPTEMBER 2019

Just Like Mom

WE REPRESENT THOSE who are rarely

seen—the calm voice in the dark, the link

holding it all together.

I’ve been a dispatcher with the 911

call center in Chicago for 24 years. Five

years ago, my daughter Angela joined the

team. There is never a dull moment in our

job. We average about 3,000 calls per

watch—9,000 a day—in the summer.

We are proud of our work, helping the

police to serve and protect the citizens

of our city.

Sharon Ploski • Chicago, IL

Born into the Business

IN SMALL TOWNS like Harper, Kansas,

it isn’t unusual to have second- and

third-generation volunteer firefighters.

But that makes us no less proud. Two of

the Ummel grandchildren, Jaci and her

brother Garrison, serve as volunteers,

along with their father, my son Gary,

who is a 25-year veteran of the Harper

Fire Department.

Shirley Ummel • Harper, KS

CALLED TO SERVE

For many, helping others is a career;

for some, it runs in the family.

Her First Battle Was the Toughest

WHEN AN AMBULANCE COMPANY relocated to a different

town, leaving our upstate New York community with the

nearest service 20 minutes away, I decided to train as

an EMT. I was 40 years old at the time.

I joined a group of new fire department recruits for

first responder training. I was delighted when I passed

the course but disappointed to learn I couldn’t use my

new skills without being attached to a fire department

or ambulance service.

So I looked into becoming a firefighter. This was the

mid-1970s and I didn’t know any women who were

firefighters. On the other hand, since I’d already trained

with some of the members, I didn’t think I’d have a

problem getting in. But when I asked a friend to sponsor

me, he said no.

“We do not have or want women in the department,”

he told me.

I went to the fire chief—and he said no, too. Finally,

after four weeks of trying to find a way in, I wrote to the

president of the firemen’s association to say I’d decided

against joining the department. His reaction surprised me.

“Rita, stick to your guns and I’ll help you,” he said.

He called for a union vote—and the membership voted

in my favor. After that, I had a lot of support, especially

because I went through the tough training to fight fires.

I was with that fire department for 20 years. In 1997,

I won the award for firefighter of the year.

Sometimes being

the first is a little

scary, but God puts us

where he wants us. I’m

in my 80s now and still

very proud of having

been a firefighter.

Rita Wagner

Vernon Center, NY

RITA’S AWARD

for firefighter of

the year has the

inscription “for

unselfish service

and dedication.”