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SEPTEMBER MAGAZINE CARTOON

Working two months in advance for Fire Engineering magazine can be a bit tricky with timely material like the cartoon above - especially when the material is so emotionally charged. Funny thing is, working that far in advance I sometimes forget what I've submitted - hey, I'm getting older!! However, when I received my copies of Fire Engineering in the mail today, it all came rushing back - there it was on page 34 staring back at me! I've never claimed to be prophetic, but I think subconsciously this cartoon said everything about 9/11 that I felt deep down inside but never wanted to admit.

I can't imagine what it must have been like that day - staring up at those burning Towers. Can't imagine the horrors that our Brothers witnessed. Can't imagine seeing, hearing, and feeling those same Towers fall. And I can't imagine working endless hours and days looking for my firehouse family within the debris. My heart literally breaks for them and their families!

The emotional wounds are healing, but the scar is still very real!

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Comment by Rich Bartlett on September 21, 2011 at 10:11am: No words are necessary, your drawing says it all. Never Forget.

Comment by Paul Combs on September 15, 2011 at 12:59pm: Thanks, Everyone!!

Comment by Fire Chief Billy Greenwood on September 15, 2011 at 12:18pm: Paul, It is amazing how one picture can sum up what many are feeling. Incredible.

Comment by Bill Carlisle on September 14, 2011 at 11:09am: Paul, very good job

Comment by Gary Schlotterbeck on September 13, 2011 at 11:02am: Paul, I didn't get there until the 15th having driven up from New Orleans. For me the two most overwhelming things were first; the sheer enormity of the devastation. I had been to lower Manhattan many times and was shocked at what I saw. Second and in my mind far more important was how many first responders from all over the world who began to filter in after flights resumed. Knowing that so many First Responders died broke my heart, seeing the response from First Responders from around the world made me proud to be part of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood. And I agree, the scars are very real. There isn't a day that the pain isn't with every First Responder living. Thank you for this heartfelt cartoon.

Comment by Nick Morgan on September 12, 2011 at 10:17pm: Awesome job Paul! God bless!

Comment by Ron Ayotte on September 12, 2011 at 4:24pm: Another grand slam from you, Paul...

Comment by Paul Combs on September 12, 2011 at 3:41pm: Thanks, Capt'!

Comment by Michael M. Dugan on September 12, 2011 at 3:34pm: Beautiful Tribute to our Brothers Paul Thank You

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