Axemen
When you talk about positive role models you must put the members of the Axemen Professional Firefighters Motorcycle club at the top of the list. In a section of Detroit, where poverty and despair are a part of daily life, a group of Firefighters who love to ride motorcycles have opened a club house. In a section of the city that used to be a Christmas Tree of diverse nationalities these guys have turned on the lights again. Their Club House is the first new positive thing that has happened to old Delray in decades.
Across from Holy Cross Church on South Street they purchased the long abandoned Solosy Funeral Home building and transformed it into an architectural masterpiece. The Club House is a thing of beauty. The front facade was designed to look like an old firehouse. Neighborhood people welcomed this fun loving group of unsung heroes. Club members from all over southeastern Michigan are active in Chapter No 1 of this nationally affiliated group. I have been retired from the Detroit department for 16 years and not long ago I knocked on the door and asked if an old Firefighter could come in. The Chief of Riverview, who said his name was Boz, said heck yes you are always welcome here. It was a great night for me. It was not long before the night bartender came in. He was an old running mate, Danny Jablonski. There was good a mix of black and white Firefighters which is the strength of this club. They are people who do positive things. Their lives are dedicated to helping people when they are working as Firefighters and also by the charities they are involved with as part of the Club’s work to do positive things.
On the wall was a plaque that honored Walt Harris who lost his life in the line of duty not too long ago. Walt was the Chaplin for the Axemen Club. I was told that the Axemen were still watching over Walt’s family. They were influential in getting Walt’s son to throw out the first pitch at the Detroit Tiger’s opener this year.
Checkout the flyer they gave me that promotes the annual Charity ride that is called “Hotter Than Hell.” It is scheduled for Sunday, July 12, 2009. Get involved and send a donation. I applaud this group of generous giving Firefighters. What they are doing is beyond the normal call of duty. They are truly the type of roll models needed in these troubled times. I salute them.
Click on photos to enlarge.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry