Thanks to social media and cell phones, we’ve become a society of individuals, when not so long ago, we were a society of neighbors. In Benjamin Cook’s documentary, The Best of Us, we are transported to the rural community of Cornell, Wisconsin, and to a time when small-town residents truly served their towns and cities.
The Best of Us focuses on Cornell’s long tradition of volunteer firefighters. In fact, in the United States, 7 out of 10 firefighters are volunteers, and in the documentary, we hear from them firsthand. Many have served and risked their lives for the citizens of Cornell for generations. Current firefighters serve today because their fathers served and because their fathers served, and the cycle continues…sort of. Today, the number of willing volunteers is dwindling, and The Best of Us is making the case for us all to remember what community is before we forget who our next-door neighbors are.
Through the testimonies of several generations of firefighters, the film explores how civic duty, family legacy, and community spirit have historically inspired citizens to serve. The calls come in and fires are fought. We see how close-knit the department is and how each member depends on the others, whether responding to a burning home or helping a neighbor in distress.
Steve Cross gears up during a volunteer fire department response in The Best of Us
“…focuses on Cornell’s long tradition of volunteer firefighters.”
Cornell’s firefighting tradition is a generational one, passed down like a family heirloom. In the past, firefighters were summoned by a siren blaring in the center of town; now, it’s through pagers and mobile alerts. But even as the tools change, the sense of duty remains. However, the film makes it clear that recruitment is now more complicated than ever. New residents often don’t understand that these departments are volunteer-run, and younger generations are less likely to take on this responsibility as they have in the past. Fewer citizens realize that we’re all responsible for the world outside ourselves. The number of volunteers is dwindling because of age and burnout.
The Best of Us allows current and former firefighters to share their stories of growing up in a small town in Wisconsin and the sense of duty instilled in them by their parents to serve their communities. The stories are ones of bravery, brotherhood, and often trauma. These volunteers are risking their lives because someone has to do it, and their reward is the gratitude of their community. We learn the philosophies and wisdom of fighting fires along with the ever-growing challenges of protecting a community that is rapidly changing.
Director Benjamin Cook puts the spotlight on a system now under strain. The film’s message is urgent: communities still rely on these volunteers, yet the foundation is eroding. The documentary ultimately serves as a call to action, celebrating the quiet heroism of those who serve while warning of what may be lost if the spirit of volunteerism fades.
The Best of Us asks us to reconsider what it means to belong to a place and to carry forward the values that once defined our neighborhoods. If we don’t answer that call now, there may come a day when no one is left to answer it at all.
"…asks us to reconsider what it means to belong to a place and to carry forward the values that once defined our neighborhoods."
