July 10, 2004

KAREN LEE FITZPATRICK....IN REMEMBRANCE

It was three years ago today when, listening to the news, I heard a report about four firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service becoming trapped while trying to put out a huge blaze in Washington State, and dying as a result.

When I first heard the report I remember bowing my head to say short prayer for the families who just suffered tremendous loss.

The following day, however, when I herd the names of the victims, it felt as If I was struck by a thunderbolt. "Karen FitzPatrick, age eighteen." This couldn't possibly be John and Kathie's daughter? But it was.

Several days later I received a letter from Kathie telling me that her daughter, Karen, perished in a conflagration that became known as "The Thirtymile Fire". Karen, along with three others died from asphyxiation while each was in his or her personal evergency shelter.

In the days that followed, Washington State was under a pall of grief and sadness the way one remote region of the State was under a pall of acrid smoke from a smoldering forest fire.

I sent the FitzPatrick's a sympathy card along with letter of encouragement. Later on I wrote about their loss in my journal for April 22 & 23, 2002.

Karen Lee was a special person. to many, including me, she was a devout Christian, a good role model for her peers and lastly, a hero.

A few years earlier I began to correspond with the FitzPatricks. Karen's mother, Kathie, was very involed in helping troubled teenagers, and she still is.

Almost every week Kathie FitzPatrick, along with other members of her church, go into a local juvenile detention center to talk to the kids about Jesus Christ. On many occasions Kathy will use my story, and she told me how the teens would connect with me and listen to my warnings and advice.

The FitzPatricks are sincere Christians who love God. Like everyone else they're not exempt from tragedy. But since their daughter's death, they've used Karen's life as an example, and it has provided hope and inspiration to many.

Thus being that today is the anniversary of Karen's passing into eternity, I want to share about her life as well as devote today's journal to her.

She was so young and she had her whole life ahead of her. But for Karen it was time to leave this world. She was ready to leave in that Karen was a person who knew her sins were already paid for by Jesus Christ.

Now I want to do my part to help Karen FitzPatrick's memory live on, and for her story to encourage and inspire young persons to take life seriously, to value others, and to be an asset to their respective commuinities.

A big part of Karen's message is that God loves people. He is not willing that anyone should die in his sins. Karen Lee did not, for she was forgiven. She placed her faith in Jesus. Her life honored the Lord. and, I believe, she wants others to be forgiven of their sins, too.

A Letter From Karen's Mom

In a letter to me dated May 2, 2002, Kathie had this to say about her daughter:

"Karen Lee FitzPatrick was a teenager who lived wholly for God, and everyone that knew her had no doubt of that...

"She often challenged her friends at school to live wholly for Christ, discovering the intimate relationship with Him as described in John, chapters 14 and 15, and in the Song of Solomon in the Bible.

"Come Away, My Beloved," describes the passionate relationship God wants to have with us through His Son, Jesus Christ. She was often challenging young people who already considered themselves Christian, to re-discover knowing Christ intimately--not just casually...

"Karen attended all day Bible studies on Sunday, and was much devoted to prayer in continuous relationship with Jesus Christ...

"She graduated West Valley HighSchool on June 8, 2001. She was part of the National Honor Society, and maintained a high grade point average. She was a talented musician who played the flute, trumpet and piano. Karen was the recipient of the senior class 'Spirit Award' as she was known for her exuberant personality, and as an encourager to others. She was also very athletic."

Then her mother went on to say:

"Although with Karen's wide variety of talents, she would have had multiple career choices. Instead she chose firefighting. She thought it was both a way to use her gifted physical strength, and also help others. She eventually hoped to be an EMT.

"We tried to talk her out of it, but it was no use. She was set on it. She certainly had her physical strength to succeed."

"Karen really wanted to work for the City of Yakima Fire Department...

"I still remember the call that came in at midnight on Monday, July 9th. I thought 'I wish she'd just roll over, and go back to sleep!' How can they work very well, being called out at all extreme, early hours of the morning like that?

"Well, the 'small fire' eventually exploded and raged into a large inferno. It took four firefighters' lives, including Karen Lee's.

"She was an Initial Attack Firefighter on the Thirtymile Fire near Winthrop

on July 10th. It became a national news story that will live in the history of firefighting forever...but my Karen will live on forever with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"

Mrs. Kathie FitzPatrick

Further on in her long letter, Kathie told this story to me about a friend of Karen's who spoke up during the funeral service:

"Karen's friends included all ages. A Chinese man, Don Chen, a restaurant owner, who knew Karen from the Bible study group relayed to us this story...

"'About one month before the fire, I had a dream like a vision. I saw Karen on her knees crying out for the salvation of others. She was on her knees, surrounded by swirling flames.'

"We know from eyewitnesses, and from the coroner's report. This is how Karen died. Her burned body was found on her knees...(I believe) she saw angels who escorted her up to heaven. We'll see her again one day!"

Kathie

Karen graduated from West Valley High School on June 8th, 2001. She was also a member of the National Honor society at the school.

Karen had plans to enroll at Yakima Community College in the Fall of 2001, to study Fire Science, and eventually hoped to become an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).

A Notable weight-lifter, she also received a medal at the women's lift-a-thon in May of 2001. Karen was the music director at the small church where she attended, and was known for her beautiful singing voice."*

"Amidst all these talents, the things she was most known for was her vibrant and alive faith in God, which shown like a lighthouse in her life. Karen had written on the wall of her room these words, 'Jesus, let me love You with my life.' This she truly did, and every day of her life, and even now, in death...her memory goes on!"*

Indeed, Jesus Christ was her first love, and she remained faithful to Him until the end.

Karen Lee FitzPatgrick

(A Poem Written By Her Mother)

December 27, 1982-July 10, 2001

Born of the Spirit, June 20, 2000

From the very lampstand of God,

Like a bright shining light was she,

Her baby name, "Karilee" meant,

"refreshing spirit."

Her name, Karen, meant "pure."

She was both of these.

She is now walking in the glories of heaven,

But it is we

Here on earth who will miss her most.

She walked in inspiration and light

Sharing of God's truth, love and might

With all who came her way.

Putting words into motion, changing lives.

May the seeds she planted in hearts here on earth's lowly shores, blossom and flower into souls who will one day know the Lord

both today ...and forever!

Hosea 10:12

Kathie FitzPatrick

This "In Remembrance" Memorial was written by me and placed in my journal that it may bring glory and honor to God.

I am thankful that the Lord created such a wonderful person in Karen Lee Fitzpatrick who will never pass this way again. But she left behind a precious legacy that, even at a young age, one could make a decision to come to faith in Jesus Christ and serve Him.

For me the message and example Karen left for us is that we should not live selfish lives. Instead, like Karen, we should devote our lives not only to our families and our oun interest, but in service to others.

It was no coincidence, I believe, that Karen Lee chose to become a firefighter. She was drawn to serving people. She served her church faithfully. Likewise she served her community. And she joined the U.S. Forest Service, too, the latter which cost Karen her life. But her legacy of love for God and people shall live on.

*Quotes and information has been obtained from the "Thirtymile Fire Memorial" brochure that is published by the United States Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. And information was also obtained by various news sources and publications, such as the Yakima Herald-Republic (www.yakima-herald.com), as well as by Kathie FitzPatrick, who also provided me with photos of Karen and her room.

David Berkowitz