Autistic teen made honorary firefighter
GASTONIA, NC - 19 year-old Jacob Huffman, who has autism, has wanted to be a firefighter ever since he saw their heroism during 9/11 when he was a child. His dream finally came true, when he spent the day with the Union Road Volunteer Fire Department.
Jacob said, “It’s amazing today. ‘Amazing’ doesn’t even describe today. I don’t even know a word to describe it.”
And it’s all thanks to firefighter Brandon Campbell, Jacob’s friend, since the second grade. Brandon said that Jacob is the “Best friend somebody could have. That’s the best way to describe it. He’s always there if you call him. Anything.”
Jacob will never forget this experience- and neither will the firefighters who spent the day showing him the ropes. No one is prouder, or more grateful than Jacob.
He had a message for firefighters everywhere. “Thank you for your service. You do an amazing job. I honor your service. All of them that are either still active, retired or have gone before us….It’s an honor to be an honorary firefighter today.”