Final Call-out

What a beautiful day.  A clear blue sky, and a chance to honor a person that made a difference.

I would hope that everyone could be spoken of in that way -he/she made a difference.

Today friends and family gathered together to honor and remember one person who was a strength to those around him.

There were stories told that many hadn't heard before, and many others remembered their experiences with this friend privately.

There's something about the sound of the siren that sits on top of our station and is activated every time we are asked to respond.

In my younger years it was an ominous feeling when it's tones cut through the stillness of the night, or interrupted your thoughts mid-day to ponder what was requiring action from the fire department.

The lonesome tones cycling up and down in pitch would send chills through me, and now that I am one of those who set life aside to answer it's beckoning call, it has no less of a hold on my emotions.

A final call-out was issued over the counties fire department radios at 1:50 PM, March 7, 2008.

As the pager finished it's alert sequence, and the dispatcher finished his requested words, all was silent except for the lonesome rise and fall of the town's siren reaching the hearts of everyone in attendance at the service.

Those who had pondered the life presented to them over the last hour and three quarters felt emotions rise up anew during the short tribute to our former chief of department.

It was our privilege as a fire department to carry our former chief to his final resting place on the back of our fire engine.  Joined by our brothers of the ATK Fire Department, we placed the casket on the engine and drove under an arch prepared by the valley's truck companies, on the way to the cemetery.

Yes it was a sad day too, but it was a beautiful day to remember a life who made others feel better by knowing him.