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On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs home opener marked the 15th anniversary since the terrorist attacks that stunned the country on September 11, 2001.
With that in mind, the Chiefs quarterback unit made an intimate visit to a local Kansas City fire station Monday in Westport, recognizing firefighters, EMTs and first responders who serve in the Kansas City area.
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The Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks, along with Chiefs cheerleaders, visited with local members of the KC Fire Department on Tuesday afternoon, September 13, 2016.
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"[We're thankful for] the chance to come out here and tell these guys how much we appreciate them, and the sacrifices the make on a daily basis for all of us," quarterback Alex Smith said. "It doesn't get said enough."
Following a meet and greet with the KCFD staff, a tour of the station and a quick fire truck ride-along around the city, the quarterbacks got the chance to swap helmets and suit up for gear demonstrations in an unyielding and heftier uniform than usual.
"Just getting to interact and see what they go through on a day-to-day basis and really, they do so much for us—protecting and just being such great people in our community," quarterback Nick Foles said. "Being here and just putting on the gear, going around in the fire truck and just seeing how they live life day to day is pretty neat for us."
"[We're] learning a little bit and goofing around a little bit too," Smith said. "It's fun to find out what these guys go through and some of the equipment they deal with here. We're talking real, real pressure situations here that these guys are under. We're in high pressure situations too, but this is on a different level. So it's fun to see what these guys have to deal with."
Sharon Martin, a KCFD Fire Apparatus Operator of over 21 years, saw this visit as a special memory, and she plans to retire her signed autographed helmet as a way to pay homage to the Chiefs and their efforts.
"The Chiefs are really big in community, and it really demonstrates that on their day off that they came out here," Martin said. "They could have been resting after their big game this week, but they took time out to come and visit us, and that's huge."
Martin, along with the members of the Kansas City Fire Department, were presented with a personalized Chiefs KCFD Station 19 jersey in thanks for their continued service in the Kansas City community and throughout the country.
