Anne Gagliano

"No need to seek that PhD in health supplements, firefighter couples. You have the best aid readily available to you: your marriage," writes Anne Gagliano.

"So, here goes 34 years’ worth of lessons learned, one for each year of our experiences, and I hope they help other couples who seek some wisdom from older folks like us," writes Anne Gagliano.

"Take the greatest risk of all, firefighters, and choose happiness. It’s easier to be negative and expect the worst, no risk there," writes Anne Gagliano.

"True courage comes from letting go of future fears and past regrets and living in the now, savoring the now, enjoying the now," writes Anne Gagliano.

Give your firefighter time to decompress and transition from the rough-and-tumble world of the firehouse to the safe and tranquil environment of home, writes Anne Gagliano.

"Selfish and selfless'are similar sounding words with vastly different meanings. If Mike and I start to become selfish instead of selfless, don’t be surprised if we get divorced," writes Anne Gagliano.

"Firefighters and fire spouses, the next time you hear of firefighter courage, please don’t gloss over it as is typical with us. We somehow take for granted this gift, even at times resent it a bit as the fear of pain and loss is an unpleasant thought on any given day," writes Anne Gagliano.

The third part of Anne Gagliano's series on firefighter widow Melanie Clark focuses on Clark's efforts to bring attention to and expand Virginia's "Move Over" Law.

Anne Gagliano continues her intimate look at FDIC International 2019's Courage and Valor Award winner, Hanover (VA) Fire-EMS Lt. Bradford Clark, with this account of her attendance at Clark's widow Melanie's class on the incident.

"The Courage and Valor Award is aptly named not only for Lt. Clark but for his fellow firefighters and, most especially, for Melanie herself," writes Anne Gagliano.