"He took care of a lot of people . . . "

       He had had but 50 birthdays.

          In that short span, Tommy McNeill "took care of a lot of people" through his 30+ year EMS career.  At the time of his death, he was leading a training exercise for a wilderness search and rescue course.     
   
     At last night's wake and today's funeral,  personnel from numerous  public service agencies from around the state came to pay their respects and to participate.  Those included representatives of  police and sheriff's offices, fire departments, EMT's and Paramedics, EMS Honor Guards, North Carolina Highway Patrol, and air medical services (med evac) from area hospitals (with a 3 helicopter fly-over at the end of the interment service).  Uniformed persons were everywhere.  The procession to the cemetery was lined by numerous fire trucks, ambulances, law enforcement vehicles, as well as friends' automobiles.  We commented that many towns' Christmas parades are not as long as this tribute.  By all accounts, he was a good person.  Colleagues spoke of his "servant legacy"; a minister praised Tommy's 'care', 'commitment' and 'call'. 

Immediately after the service, the procession begins to form

      

     One minister acknowledged to the EMS contingent
 that we largely "think of you only when we need you" and commended their spirit of service, "especially in our self-centered culture."  I observed that these men and women form a diverse fraternity . . . of gender, race, and ages . . . of great mutual respect born of having trained for and faced many life or death events. I witnessed men unembarrassed to exchange hugs and to shed tears.

    The "Emergency and Rescue Squad Member's Prayer" that appeared in the worship bulletin reflected the spirit very much in evidence today: "O God, whose mercy, love, and compassion are given to each of us, help me to share that love through my concern for others. Make me sensitive to the needs of people not only when their lives are in danger, but also when their spirits are being drowned in the pools of loneliness, despair and discouragement. . ."

Rest in Peace

       My office is located at an intersection where emergency vehicles frequently turn, heading to the Hospital's Emergency Department.  Now when I hear those sirens, I want to remember to say a prayer of thanks for the Tommy McNeills who work to make our society safer.  And I intend to say 'thanks' to any of these folks whom I meet in everyday situations.  I urge you to do the same.

      Satchel