A shirt is a basic clothing item that men as well as women have used for years. it can serve as an added layer of warmth to the body but as time has moved on it also became a valuable form of media to advertise anything from a sports team to a vacation spot to a product advertising and more. However it has also served as a means of love and reaching out for ones brother or sister who is in need or bring public attention to something.

In the public servant jobs especially the fire and police departments it has become a symbol of who they are. The Maltese crosses is the  fire department universal symbol or PDs iconic badge designs are printed on these shirts along with the proud slogan of that department and particular station or company number.

When one of these brave courageous individuals tragically gets an illness or condition  that can end their careers or worse takes their life, their fellow firefighters or policemen  have used the T-Shirt as a means to express their love, support and camaraderie. Shirts are designed with logos of their department and station with the indiviuals name, favorite sport, saying or team, anything that they were know for that individualized them and made them adorned by their fellow work mates. These shirts are sold for a reasonable cost to other members around the job or the public to raise money to help the individual and family deal with medical expenses and anything else related that is hurting the family financially and emotionally. Slogans about the illness are also put on the shirts to bring public awareness to the disease or illness that has stricken the members. Some of these awareness slogans are “Autism”; “ALS”; “Brain Cancer”; “Hodgkins ” and other diseases. Found raisers such as dinners; concerts are held and also hockey; baseball or football games between different city departments. These all have benefitted the families experiencing this terrible time greatly and eased their pain. It is such a wonderful show of love for their comrades. It expresses the willingness to want to help and do all they can.

A shirt. Such a simple article of clothing which can be used and worn in such an honorable way. Can show as The Christ said one of the two greatest commandments “to love your fellowman as yourself”. Worn proudly in support or memory of their comrades and also so their memory lives on.