Wareham Firefighter and Paramedic Hasn’t Missed a Day in Pandemic
Josh Barrette joined his local volunteer firefighter department when he was 18 years old and has been working as a firefighter ever since. Barrette then became a paramedic and is currently on the Bourne Fire Department full-time, the Marion Fire Department part-time, and works as a paramedic for STAT of Dartmouth as well. He is one of the SouthCoast's frontline heroes.
His wife, Vanessa Barrette, wanted to recognize him in the Spotlight SouthCoast Frontline Heroes program because he has not missed a single day of work throughout this last year.
“Although this past year has brought worry and fear, Josh has not missed a day of work,” Barrette said. “Some weeks he will work 72 hours straight that end with a total of 108 hours worked that week.”
Working as hard as he has, he has done it with a sense of grace.
“How he does it I will never know,” Barrette said. “He has not complained once or stated that he’s tired.”
This demanding schedule has taken traditional family time away from the Barrette crew, but they have handled it in stride.
“It seems like we have eaten more family dinners out of the car than our dining room table during this pandemic, but we know that he is needed and we understand,” Barrette said. “He comes home and he’s the ‘fun’ dad, always taking his boys and dog on adventures.”
When he’s not at work, Barrette loves coaching his Bourne youth lacrosse team, his boat, and snowboarding.
This loving wife nominated her favorite essential worker because to her, Josh is the true definition of a hero, at work and at home.
“We are so lucky he is who he is, someone who we are so proud of and who our children can look up to,” said Barrette.
Thank you, Josh, for all you do day in and day out.
If you would like to shine a light on the essential workers in your life, click HERE to nominate them for the Spotlight SouthCoast Frontline Heroes program. Let everyone know what this past year has been like for them and how proud you are to know them. This program is made possible thanks to our sponsor, Prima Care.