| Eric
Rotter is committed to our youngest burn survivors:
During the times of the Crusades,
the Knights of St. John became known for their courage and
commitment to their community as they fought fire, saved
lives, and ministered to burn victims on the field of
battle. Wearing the symbol
of the Maltese Cross for identity, these extraordinary
individuals were honored and respected by friend and 
foe for their compassion. This symbol of the Maltese Cross
has been carried down through the ages to become the
modern symbol of America’s firefighters.
This year, we honor an Arizona
firefighter who has displayed an enormous capacity for
compassion and commitment to the youngest burn survivors
of our society. Eric
Rotter, of the Tucson Fire Department, has been named the
2001 United Fire Firefighter of the Year.
Mr. Rotter is a full-time
firefighter who gives an enormous amount of volunteer time
to the Arizona Burn Camp, a nationally known camp for over
100 children who have survived devastating burns. As a
camp counselor, and now a director of the camp, Mr. Rotter
not only helps to organize the activities, he is
responsible for recruiting more volunteers, and securing
donations of supplies and dollars to sponsor individual
children to attend the camp. He also raises funds for a
pediatric burn unit at a Tucson hospital, often offering
his help with psychological and social support programs
for these young burn victims. In addition, he helps with
the "Young Eagles" flight training program for
children, finding equipment donations and even driving the
students to the flight field, using his personal vacation
time. Eric Rotter dedicates himself to supporting life
safety education, both on the job and off.
Commitment, courage, compassion,
and community are the foundation of the code that defines
firefighters and emergency personnel working today in
Arizona. They are the traits that identified long ago
Knights of St. John, whose firefighting and life saving
work during the Crusades earned them the accolades of
their peers. Eric Rotter demonstrates these traits every
day in his commitment to his community’s well being. We
are very proud to present him with the Symbol
of Excellence Award as the 2001 United Fire
Firefighter of the Year.
|
 |
