Members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station 8 visited Annandale Terrace Elementary to surprise one second grade student and his classmates. The story began in October 2018, when school counselor Ann Miller matched up second grader Raihan and firefighter Steve Urban in the Mentorworks program. Miller had been collaborating with the firefighters for several years, and she knew Urban would make a great mentor. Raihan and Urban had an instant connection and met regularly for weekly lunches. As their friendship grew, the student would ask questions about what firefighters do. Urban promised that one day he would bring the fire trucks to visit so Raihan could get an up-close view. Urban worked with teacher Rebecca Hefter to plan the surprise.

When the big day came, the entire second grade, with Raihan leading the way, was asked to walk outside with their teachers. There were two ladder trucks, an ambulance, and more than a dozen firefighters waiting out front. The children eagerly listened as Urban explained the reason for their visit. He then called Raihan up to help show the students the many pieces of gear a firefighter must wear when responding to a fire. Afterward the children were allowed to sit inside and examine the trucks.  Over the years, the firefighters have been very generous to Annandale Terrace ES, spending time reading to students, donating school supplies, and participating in the mentoring program. Contact Ann Miller at [email protected].