Alabaster FD Station No. 2 honored through art

By Austin Phillips (Contact) | Alabaster Reporter

Published Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A picture says 1,000 words.

But for Roseanna Paulin, not even a picture can say enough good words about the Alabaster Fire Department, especially Station No. 2 off Butler Road.

Photo by Corey Nolen— Reporter Photo

— Reporter Photo

Members of the Alabaster Fire Department, including (Front, L-R) Glenn Austin, Josh Matherson, Ched Burton, (Back, L-R) Jamada Green, Vern Tucker, Sean Barr, David Lash, Chief Frank Matherson and Greg Farrell joined Joey Paulin as his mother presented the painting Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Paulin presented Station No. 2 with a portrait donated by an artist in Florida.

The portrait, which depicts Paulin’s son, Joey, out of his wheelchair reaching up to touch the coats of three firefighters, was a gift to show the firefighters how much she appreciates all the fire department has done for her son during his tumultuous first five years of life.

Joey was born with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, a rare and terminal illness that prevents the boy from walking, talking, sitting or standing.

“I wanted to do something special, especially for Station 2,” Roseanna told the firefighters Wednesday. “I wanted to present this to you as a way of saying ‘Thank you.’ You all mean so much to me.”

In the portrait, the three coats have the last names of firefighters Glenn Austin, Josh Matherson and Ched Burton because the three firefighters have gone above and beyond their call of duty over the years, Roseanna said.

“We’ve been here 25 years and we go through ups and downs, peaks and valleys. You sometimes question if you’re making an impact,” said Burton. “This means everything to us.”

Gov. Bob Riley even wrote a letter to commend the staff for the great job they’ve done with Joey and with the community.

“I commend the dedicated and selfless service you have provided for this child and his family,” Riley said. “Alabamians like you who give of themselves for the good of others are the fabric and framework of all that is good about our state. You are an inspiration to all, and the citizens of Alabama and I are grateful for your commitment and generosity.”

Burton said the artist did an outstanding job with the picture, and that Joey has done an amazing job of raising awareness of his rare disease.

“His grin and his ability to do what he does to people … he’s taken Alabaster all over the country,” Burton said. “There’s very few people who have made an impact like he has, and he’s done it without ever speaking or walking.”

And while Burton knows Joey is in awe each time he sees his buddies at the fire department, it is Burton and his fellow firefighters who are in awe of what this 5-year-old boy has done.

“It’s a pretty significant thing to witness,” Burton said.

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