Hero of the Month

"In every community, there is work to be done.
In every nation, there are wounds to heal.
In every heart, there is the power to do it.
– Marianne Williamson

Mike Dahlberg is a community builder. District boundaries do not confine him or define the lengths he will go to meet a need or heal a heart. He does not see boundaries or barriers. He sees opportunities to bring people together to do good or lift someone up.

Mike is a firefighter who has spent 30+ years with Minneapolis Fire and earned the title of Battalion Chief. He also served for more than 20 years with Ramsey Fire. He has earned the reputation for going above and beyond. With Minneapolis Fire he worked at Station 4 which was one of the busiest houses in the city and swung between Engine 4 and Ladder 4 to provide the highest level of care and service. Mike's passion and selfless sacrifice is inspiring to new recruits. He sets the tone for house comraderie when he fired up the station grill to make pancakes for families displaced after a house fire, or coordinated medical coverage for the “Back to the 50's” event at the State Fair, or assisted with medical coverage at District 10 Hockey, or volunteered with Firefighters for Healing at Camp RED, or equipped his grandson with a new wheelchair or installed a lift for their family van. In 2010, he rallied support to establish Local 82 Charities to help firefighters and community needs throughout Minneapolis. He goes where he is needed.

Most recently Mike started the Ramsey Fire Honor Guard while supporting the Bart Hayft family through their cancer journey and celebration of life. There is no greater honor than paying a proper tribute and providing a family with one last treasured memory before they have to say goodbye. Mike and his fellow honor guard members will leave a legacy of love and honor. They are defining what community means in Ramsey and showing the next generation an example of how to be there for your neighbors and friends.

We know that if we asked Mike who his heroes are, he would say his wife Diane and his sons Jason, Nick and Andy. He is humble and kind. He does not see what we see. What he does in a given day is normal for him. To us though, he is truly an everyday hero. Join us in celebrating Michael Dahlberg, Local 82.