In Your Memory

8/23/2011

"In Your Memory"

I never knew you as a philly paramedic. I never knew half of the stories I heard til after you were gone. I never worked with you at tri-hampton as we were both paramedics but always looked foward to hearing you when I had to call the ME's office for a code I called in the field or patient that was dead on arrival. 

The first peice of music that came to mind after I found out you had died was I believe an old poem turned to song where the lyrics say "Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there. I did not die"  I first heard the song as apart of a Third Watch episode when a paramedic was killed and it was played at her funeral. 

After moving my work scheudle around, and two MXT's thanks to Jenn Moore I was able to make the trip to your funeral in Niagra Falls, NY.  We were far from close friends but this is what being in Emergency Services is about, paying your last respects and doing so even if that means driving 700mi round trip.

As apart of the trip we took your dog along to bring him to your family. Needless to say there is a ton of dog hair in my trail blazer, and a near fatal escape at a rest area made for an interesting trip. But, the heart felt thanks from your family made it while. I must say the falls were beatiful and the area a fitting place for your burial. Just as the poem said though your not at your grave, your in heaven. 

A fellow paramedic said it best as we taked after services. "Everyone knows that you do enough time at Medic 3 you lose your compassion for people and he didn't." I heard so often in these last few days how much your cared for people, and if I could make one fitting memory to you it would be for me to do the same on the same city streets you served.