Why is it that nineteen heroes had to lose their lives fighting a horrible fire when awful people walk the face of the planet every day? These men (they were all men) were the elite of the fire fighting world. They were fit and trained and ready to go. They had a plan, they had equipment, and they had courage. What they didn’t have was luck. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened exactly. I don’t really need to know. I just know that Arizona suffered a horrible loss with the loss of these heroes. I can’t even imagine what their families are dealing with. People say things like, “they died doing what they loved,” or “they knew the risks.” That may be true, but I don’t think it makes it any less painful for those they left behind. The parents, the children, the sweethearts and friends. This link was posted to their Facebook page with the request that it be shared. The Granite Mountain Hotshots want to be known for not only what they do, but who they are, and who they were.