Story and photos by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
At one point or another we all become our “parent’s parents”. Repaying our moms and dads for all of the help they have given us over the years. So it seemed appropriate that you would find a daughter from Tennessee concerned for her 91-year-old dad in Pueblo, Colorado.
Albert Roldan (R) talks with Red Cross volunteer Kathy Hayden about home fire safety.
Albert Roldan is 91 years old, a veteran and life-long resident of Pueblo. He served in Europe during WWII in the 9th Division, 60th Field Artillery. He also spent time in the Naval and Marine Corps reserves as well as a short stint with the Merchant Marines. After spending time serving his country he returned to Pueblo and like so many residents of Pueblo, went to work at the Steel Mill, bought a small home near the mill and raised a family. After his wife passed away he has lived alone but has caring family nearby.
Cate Roldan has other siblings that help take care of dad after mom passed a year ago. There is even a grandson who stops in to check up on things. But it was Cate’s turn to check things out.
Red Cross volunteer Utah Smith installs a smoke alarm.
On a recent visit to Pueblo, Cate saw that the one smoke alarm in her dad’s house was not working. She went to the Facebook page for the Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado and sent a message asking for help.
“I was so excited when I heard about the [smoke alarm] program and wanted to make sure that my dad could take advantage of it,” Cate said. “I live in Tennessee and knowing he was at risk always made me a little nervous.”
June 19, two days after Father’s Day, a team of three Red Cross volunteers, lead by Dave Duran, pulled up at Albert Roldan’s home in Pueblo, CO ready to install free smoke alarms. They installed three smoke alarms in the home and went over the fire safety information with Albert. “This was a great Father’s Day present for my dad and for the rest of the family,” Cate said. “You folks ([Red Cross] have made it so that we will all sleep a little easier knowing he has working alarms.”
To learn more about the Red Cross and the Home Fire Campaign visit redcross.org/homefiresafety.