Behind the Maltese Cross

Book about firefighters… and more

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Garrie Madison Stoutimore grew up in western Massachusetts and graduated from UMass Dartmouth. Her debute book, Behind the Maltese Cross draws readers around the firehouse kitchen table where she relates their tales of comradery, danger, and the quiet moments that rarely make the headlines. A die hard New Englander, she is devoted to her family, friends, and the Atlantic Ocean. 
Garrie Madison Stoutimore grew in western Massachusetts and graduated from UMass Dartmouth. Her debute book, Behind the Maltese Cross draws readers around the firehouse kitchen table where she relates their tales of comradery, danger, and the quiet moments that rarely make the headlines. A die hard New Englander, she is devoted to her family, friends, and the Atlantic Ocean.

  • I’m not a patient person by nature. Just ask my family. I find it hard to sit through a whole movie. When I knit, I like short projects like hats and mittens. When I ask questions, I prefer the bottom line. And in the past, my writing was limited to short blog posts, emails, and magazine articles.

    And then I decided to write a book.

    Completing my book took way longer than I anticipated. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I started it close to fifteen years ago. You’ll have to read the book to find out why it took so long.

    Today the book officially launched, and finally seeing it in print has made every moment worth the wait. My goal was to relate the stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things- men and women who run toward danger when the rest of us run away from it.

    After reading my manuscript, a friend of mine wrote the following:

    “Did you know that I saw a Boston fire truck on its way to a call tonight, and it occurred to me that I will never look at a fire truck or a firefighter the same way again?”

    Mission accomplished.

    If I’ve enticed you to find out more, click on the link.. https://a.co/d/3lCSsqS. If you do read it (and I hope you will) please leave an honest review on Amazon and drop me a line.

  • Making a Difference

    “I think I can make a difference.”

    These words were spoken by Dave, a fire chief I met when doing research for my book Behind the Maltese Cross.  He explained that when he first interviewed for a firefighter position, he was asked why he wanted the job, and his reply was, “I think I can make a difference.”

    To his surprise, his answer earned him the first step in a lifelong career serving a city he loved. He never lost sight of his goal and he did make a difference- to his community, to the firefighters under his command, and to his family.  

    I too wanted to make a difference, which was why I firmly believe in volunteerism.  As a young woman in the 70s, I joined VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) and traveled across the country to work as an instructor for parents of children with special needs. Later, when my kids were young, I volunteered at my church and their schools.  And eleven years ago I became a CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children.  

    I love my CASA work, but it’s not always easy.  Most of the situations surrounding abused and neglected children are heartbreaking.  Someone is always sad.  A parent may lose his child. A child may be taken from her parents.  There is sometimes violence.  There is often addiction..  There are always tears.  And some nights, especially when I am tired, they are mine.

    But here’s the thing.  We don’t choose to be volunteers just to make us feel good. We choose to volunteer to make a difference.  To change the world.  To leave this life a little better than the way we found it.  

    Do you want to make a difference?  Look for a way you can volunteer. There are opportunities everywhere.  Coach a kids’ team.  Greet patients at a hospital.  Drive patients to their appointments. Read at a nursing home.  Teach Sunday School.  Find a niche that puts your talent and your time to work.  You may wonder if your small contribution can really change the world, but remember that the ocean may be huge, but it is essentially made up of little droplets of water.  Your seemingly small contributions combined with other small contributions are exactly what will change the world.

    You can read more about Chief Dave and many more men and women who chose firefighting as a way to make a difference in book Behind the Maltese Cross, available on Amazon https://a.co/d/0uqGoFM

  • For the past eleven years, I’ve volunteered for CASA of New Hampshire.  CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. As a CASA I advocate for New Hampshire’s children who have been abused or neglected.  Part of the responsibility is to speak to a judge about the child’s best interest during a court hearing. It is a heavy responsibility, but one to which I am deeply committed, and while I always get a bit nervous before I speak, I usually can express myself in a way that conveys what I believe to be best for the children I represent.

    However, earlier this week I stood in the courtroom explaining to the judge an unexpected and extremely sad twist of events in the case.  As I began I felt completely in control, but to my horror, midway through my presentation a lump suddenly formed in my throat and tears sprang to my eyes.  As I paused in an effort to regain my composure, I could hear sniffles from others in the courtroom. Soon several people were softly crying and the judge’s expression softened as she patiently waited for me to find my voice. Despite the fact that my typical alto timbre changed to a very squeaky soprano, I was able to finish my explanation, but my cheeks burned with embarrassment and I was happy that the judge declined to question me further.

    Later that night as I reflected on the day’s events, I remembered doing interviews for my book Behind the Maltese Cross.  During our conversations, many firefighters found themselves fighting tears as they related their experiences. I never thought less of them for crying. In fact, their tears were evidence of their humanity and how deeply they cared.  It took a great deal of strength for these men and women to bare their hearts instead of hiding behind a façade of impassivity or bravado.

    I certainly hope I never again get that choked up in the courtroom, and I’m not promoting the idea of spilling crocodile tears during every emotionally charged situation. But I have come to the conclusion that a willingness to expose a bit of our souls- to show our humanity- may indeed be a show of strength rather than a sign of weakness.

    You can read more stories about some of the strongest men and women I have ever met in Behind the Maltese Cross, available later this summer.

  • “If the kitchen table was the mecca for conversation, coffee was the vehicle by which it was served.”

    In my childhood home, the coffee pot was rarely empty. Often joined by friends and neighbors, my parents sat at our old kitchen table and sipped the stuff several times a day. Before I was old enough to go to school, I knew how to fix my father’s cup- carefully pour the coffee into a cup leaving room for a generous splash of milk. Then stir in one teaspoon of sugar… and a little bit more.  

    Pouring and serving coffee afforded me the opportunity to listen in on grown-ups’ conversations.  As I spooned and stirred, I eavesdropped, learning much about religion, politics, the arts, books, and world events. As I grew older, I became a participant in the conversations and learned more about the people gathered around the table. It was easy to see that a small comfort, like a cup of coffee, breaks down barriers, puts people at ease, and creates an atmosphere where ideas are easily voiced and opinions are freely shared. 

    At the firehouses I visited in preparation for writing my book, my coffee cup was rarely empty.  I was welcomed to many kitchen tables where firefighters bantered, laughed, shared their dreams and divulged their fears. And while there were days when my hands trembled from too much caffeine, I was always grateful for another cup and another conversation.

    I count it a privilege to share these conversations in Behind the Maltese Cross and hope that my words pay homage to the brave men and women who wear a badge bearing the Maltese cross.  

    Garrie Madison Stoutimore

    Author, Behind the Maltese Cross

  • I look out my kitchen window and I see my grandsons hard at play. They are pretending they are knights of an unknown order, on a quest to conquer a fire breathing dragon. Wielding wooden swords, they charge into the wooded area surrounding the yard, heedless of mosquitoes, poison ivy and thorny bushes. No obstacle will prevent them from their grail.

    I chose the name for my book Behind the Maltese Cross long before it was finished. Early in this writing journey, the chief of Holyoke Fire Department explained to me who the knights of Malta were and why a Maltese cross is often used on a firefighter’s badge. The virtues displayed by the knights of Malta- loyalty, bravery, generosity, honor, respect, truth, service to the sick, and contempt for death- are the code of conduct adopted by the fire service. The badge- the image of a Maltese cross- is worn over the heart.

    Does every firefighter adhere to this code at all times? Nope. Firefighters are regular people- men and women who, just like the rest of us, sometimes fall short of these ideals.  And everywhere we turn, we see these moral failures. In the news, on the TV, in social media- we see the video after video of people at their worst. They scream. They swear. They call each other names that we dare not repeat. They are celebrities. They are pundits. They are world leaders and politicians. They are our neighbors. And it’s easy to think “If they can act that way, so can I.”

    But a principled life is about striving: endeavoring to do what is right. Setting goals, however lofty, and trying to attain them. Living an honorable life and not allowing circumstances or the actions of other people drag us into an abyss of selfishness and disregard for our fellow beings. 

    In my upcoming book you will meet modern day knights of Malta- men and women who voluntarily and selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to protect lives and property. They are true heroes- ordinary people who do extraordinary things.  And while we all aren’t cut out to be firefighters, we can all strive to adopt the same values- loyalty, bravery, generosity, honor, respect, truth, service to the sick, and contempt for death, perhaps becoming our own knights of an unknown order. 

    Garrie Madison Stoutimore

    Author, Behind the Maltese Cross

  • Behind the Maltese Cross

    Many of you have followed my blog site, “A Cup of Tea with Momma G,”  and if you have, you might remember the post “My brother Eric.” https://gstoutimore.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/my-brother-eric/.  

    The conversation I had with Eric that chilly October evening ignited my curiosity.  I wanted to know more about the men and women who have chosen firefighting as a profession and what motivates them to charge into danger while the rest of us run away from it.  With Eric’s help, I contacted fire chiefs, mostly from New England, who graciously invited me to visit their fire stations and conduct interviews.

    My aim was to write a book exploring the field of firefighting. I expected to hear stories about dousing flames and rescuing people, and I was not disappointed. But I came to realize that the true bravery exhibited by these quiet heroes was in their willingness to bare their souls and share deep introspections, joys, fears, and struggles.

     Behind the Maltese Cross is a blend of memoir and investigative storytelling that takes readers into the heart of the firefighting world. Blending my own personal growth with the raw, often untold stories of firefighters on the front lines, the book balances moments of humor, heartbreak, and triumph, offering readers an authentic look at the realities of fire service life. 

    In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting more in anticipation of launching Behind the Maltese Cross, which should be available for sale toward the end of summer. If you are so inclined, please repost this blog on social media and share with friends and family by email, snail mail, or carrier pigeon.  And feel free to leave a comment. 

    Best,

    Garrie Madison Stoutimore

     Author, Behind the Maltese Cross