First Responders »News & culture
LaDainian Tomlinson celebrates first responders in San Diego
beingzoe about 2 years ago |

On Tuesday, December 12, LaDainian Tomlinson hosted an event at Kit Carson Park in Escondido, California to honor first responders.
In a heart felt speech to a huge crowd of firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel Tomlinson conveyed his gratitude for their hard work,
and saving his home.

“You know what, people think athletes are the real heroes, but all we do is entertain and try to set the right example for people.
But the firefighters, the sheriffs, the nurses, the doctors, you guys are the real heroes because you’re protecting us and keeping us safe.”

The NFL MVP and his wife, LaTorsha, wanted to show their appreciation for the hardwork and sacrifices during Fire Storm 2007.

Just before the couple received a reverse 911 call giving them a mandatory evacuation,
LaDainian was trying to watch the games and apparently unaware of the fires to the dismay of his wife.

According to Tomlinson, after the evacuation he sneaked back into his neighborhood to check the situation.

“There were fires everywhere. The most amazing thing to me was how the firefighters and the Sheriff’s Department was in there.
They didn’t care about their lives. They were just trying to protect our homes.”

“That’s when for me it struck home how important this was and how much I appreciated what they were doing.”

Of everything that could have been going through his mind, his personal possessions, including a prized NFL MVP trophy, were not in his thoughts.
“I wasn’t worried about that. I was worried about the firefighters who were fighting the fires.”

“My wife and I went back and it was amazing. I don’t know how the fire did not burn my house down,” LT said.

Lunch was served to over a thousand individuals, many of them first responders in uniform. Despite Tomlinson inviting the heroes to the event to be honored, many of the people still took the opportunity to join Tomlinson on stage for photographs and autographs.

According to a Union Tribune article by J. Harry Jones
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER :

“One was Poway Division Chief Jon Canavan, who was in charge of the engines that saved Tomlinson’s home. The two men hugged. “It was a wonderful event,” Poway Fire Chief Mark Sanchez said. “It came from the goodness of his heart.”

Photo Credit: CHARLIE NEUMAN / Union-Tribune

Photo caption from U-T article: Escondido Fire Department engineer Mike O’Connor held onto a signed Chargers helmet for a co-worker who won it in a raffle at yesterday’s event.

Also see the story in the North County Times