Firefighters surprise students at Annandale Terrace

Steve Urban and Raihan [FCPS]

Annandale Terrace Elementary School second-graders got a surprise visit from members of Fairfax County Fire Station 8 in Annandale earlier this month.

Firefighter Steve Urban has been coming to the school for weekly lunches with second grader Raihan since October, when school counselor Ann Miller matched the two through the MentorWorks program. During their sessions Raihan would ask what firefighters do, and Urban promised to one day bring the firetrucks to the school.

When the big day came, the entire second grade, with Raihan leading the way, was asked to come outside with their teachers. There were two ladder trucks, an ambulance, and more than a dozen firefighters. Urban asked Raihan to describe the gear firefighters wear, then the children got to sit inside the trucks.