One day, when the boy came to visit his father, he found on a street a raven with broken wing. He took the raven back home. The boy did his best to fix the broken bones, and made a little box in which the raven would sleep. The raven could not fly, so it was just hopping around, and it followed the boy everywhere. The boy became very attached to the raven. The wing healed quickly, and it soon became apparent that the raven will be able to fly again. One night the boy woke up when he felt a gentle tap on his head. He opened his eyes expecting to see the raven by his shoulder, as it had happened many times before, but instead he saw a young man standing in the middle of the room. The man said: “Don’t be afraid. I AM the raven, but I am really a Raven Prince. I wanted to thank you for your kindness before I have to go. Before I leave I want to give you this...”  And he gently placed a small golden trumpet in boy’s hand. “If you ever need my help, sound this trumpet, and I will help you, I promise. Good bye, my friend.”

Years have passed. The boy became a firefighter, like his father. But he never forgot his raven friend. He always had his little trumpet with him, on his chest. The boy never had to use it, because he had enough courage and strength to be the best firefighter in the city. But a great war came, and enemies stood at the gates of Poznan. They were numerous and strong, and the city did not have much hope to survive the siege. The young firefighter looked in despair. His city was being reduced to ruins, and people were dying. And then he thought about the promise of the Raven Prince.

He ran quickly to the watchtower, where he pulled out the trumpet and with all his strength sounded the signal of despair. When the sound faded, he looked anxiously, hoping for something to happen. At his feet there was still the battle, and it was almost lost. Suddenly he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He looked around and saw the Raven Prince in the room with him. The Prince said: “I promised, and I coming back to help you. Look!” The firefighter looked outside again, and this time he saw a huge storm cloud forming over the horizon. But the cloud moved with amazing speed, and soon it was over the city, and it was not a cloud, but thousands of ravens flying through the skies. They attacked the invaders, beating them with their wings and knocking them out with their beaks. The enemies soon retreated, and the city was saved. The young fire fighter turned to thank their savior, but there was nobody in the room again.

Until today, every day at noon the same melody the young firefighter played that day is played again to remind people of the necessity for courage and friendship.

Retired firefighter Ben Upton provides a little local history about all this:

I left the raven at the top of the hose tower at station #2 to keep watch over the City of Royal Oak. Honestly, I did wonder how long it would be allowed to stay there, as most people have never heard any version of the fine story the bird relates to.

 

I heard a variation on this story many years ago, prior to becoming a firefighter.  The bird in question was mounted by my father, Karl William Upton, and came into my possession at his death in 1998. At that time I could think of no finer place for it to reside than the hose tower of #2, overlooking this fine City. It is mounted standing on one foot, holding a 5 card hand of "Rook" cards in the other foot, and has "Upton" written in black marker on the bottom of the wood base it stands on. That is the extent of it's local history.

 

When I retired I felt that the proper place for my raven was still there, so I left it in its place, as I believed that the need for courage and friendship have never been greater in Royal Oak. I think this story and what it represents should be told widely.