It was a warm Sunday morning in August of 1998. My son and I were on our way to church when we met the fire truck on their way to a fire. I looked in the truck and there was Larry and his brother, Henry Lee, on their way to the fire, with Larry blowing the horn.

I will never forget that day because that was my last time seeing my husband alive on his way to doing what he loved. I could go on and on about that day, but the main thing I chose to remember is the smile on his face as the truck rushed by with him waving at me.

I know that one day I will see that smile again and him waving hello instead of good-bye. I didn't learn that over night. It took time to accept and learning to depend on God. I had a hard time coping with his death, but I knew I had to go on. I became involved with the Foundation through the invite to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial services. There I met families just like me and made new friends and a new family. With a Foundation scholarship, I went back to college and received my diploma in Business, but that was not enough. So, I am in school now working on getting my Associate's Degree in Applied Science in Business Administration.