Our small town witnessed something today, the likes of which has never happened here before. Today was the Line Of Duty funeral for the fallen volunteer firefighter, Dan Botkin.
Residents lined the street as men and women in uniform marched on and on in solemn support. At least 30 fire vehicles from all over this province and neighbouring provinces made a slow and massive procession through our streets. Each polished and shined and gleaming.
Dan Botkin was only 25 and just married in October. One of his wedding photos shows he and his beautiful new bride embracing infront of a brilliant, red fire truck. Today, draped in black, that same truck carried his casket through town. Alone in the front seat was his young widow, straight backed and dry eyed as a thousand people marched behind her and hundreds of us on the street wept for her.
We could not all fit in the arena for the service, so people stood outside to listen over loudspeakers. We stood side by side with each other, eyes lowered, listening, you could have heard a pin drop. Never have I been in such a crowd of people who were so very still and so very silent.
This was a moving display and the citizens of Enderby cannot convey to these people how grateful and honoured we are that they would come in support of our lost boy. In polished trucks, in pressed suits and shined shoes, white gloves, red serge, the bagpipes piped them on...and each of us offered our gratitude in silent prayer. As a community we have never stood side by side through something like this and I think Enderby will wake up tomorrow exactly the same, but profoundly different.
Residents lined the street as men and women in uniform marched on and on in solemn support. At least 30 fire vehicles from all over this province and neighbouring provinces made a slow and massive procession through our streets. Each polished and shined and gleaming.
Dan Botkin was only 25 and just married in October. One of his wedding photos shows he and his beautiful new bride embracing infront of a brilliant, red fire truck. Today, draped in black, that same truck carried his casket through town. Alone in the front seat was his young widow, straight backed and dry eyed as a thousand people marched behind her and hundreds of us on the street wept for her.
We could not all fit in the arena for the service, so people stood outside to listen over loudspeakers. We stood side by side with each other, eyes lowered, listening, you could have heard a pin drop. Never have I been in such a crowd of people who were so very still and so very silent.
This was a moving display and the citizens of Enderby cannot convey to these people how grateful and honoured we are that they would come in support of our lost boy. In polished trucks, in pressed suits and shined shoes, white gloves, red serge, the bagpipes piped them on...and each of us offered our gratitude in silent prayer. As a community we have never stood side by side through something like this and I think Enderby will wake up tomorrow exactly the same, but profoundly different.
