Here’s a story we're awfully proud of — and thankful for.
A few weeks back, during our last trip to New Orleans, we chose to highlight the fire department, where the members call themselves the silent service, because they stayed on the job during Katrina — many losing their own homes while they went about rescuing 18,000 people.
We focused on Engine 7's firehouse. It was destroyed by the flood, and now the firefighters live out of a trailer.
It turns out a lot of generous people were watching, including the producers of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” They invited the firefighters from our segment to come on, then Frito-Lay presented a $150,000 check.
There's more money coming, too: $25,000 from the fund set up to remember FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who was killed on 9/11.
The big news? We're told there's enough donated money and labor to rebuild Engine 7, and with more help on the way, they hope to rebuild all the other damaged and destroyed firehouses in New Orleans soon.
The firefighters of New Orleans deserve it.
