More Than Just Survival Gear

"We wear our Straps to honor Chief Mike McGroarty. Here in the photo we raise our glasses on 9/11 in an Irish pub in NYC. Chief McGroarty was one of the fathers of Urban Search and Rescue in this Country. "Wrote the book" in California for standards and was adopted nation wide to what the FEMA US&R program is today. Chief McGroarty trained thousands across America in US&R, ICS, and Incident Management. Chief McGroarty was involved with the Command of the 95 OKC Bombing where he ran Night Operations with FDNY Ray Downey. On 9/11 Chief McGroarty was the first FEMA US&R Commander on-scene from California and Commanded the Church Street Division teaching and Commanding at the same time. On our Straps we inscribed his words in quotes. "I'm not a Hero. I Train Hero's."  The core of instructors purchased our straps after his passing to honor and recognize his contribution to the Fire Service and the Urban Search and Rescue fields... " - Guy

After posting the above story to our Facebook page, Sue McGroarty Simonson wrote us: 

"Wearing my survival bracelet, same as the firefighter's above, in tribute to my brother, Chief Mike McGroarty, as my wet hand touches the wall by the reflection pool at the Oklahoma City Memorial joins his working hands in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City Bombing."