Hometown Heroes is always a special night at the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club – it’s the night when we stop to say “thank you” to our local First Responders for the work they do each and every day. It’s our way to commemorate 9/11 and something we’ve done now for 18 years – and a way to show our gratitude for those whose job it is to keep us safe.

Once again this year for Hometown Heroes 2019 we were the guests of Spruce Point Inn, and the evening was an opportunity for police, fire, ambulance, communications and Coast Guard personnel to come together for a great evening. Maine representative Holly Stover was in attendance, and she presented a letter from Gov. Janet Mills thanking our First Responders.

Our guest speaker was Tom Judge, the founder and executive director of LifeFlight in Maine, the helicopter and fixed wing medivac service. Rotarian John Welsh, who has known and worked with Tom for many years, made the point that Tom started off as a paramedic in Port Clyde and that “he still carries a pager.”

Tom spoke passionately about LifeFlight and the work that it does to save lives here in Maine. “We all have a built-in need to help strangers,” he said, explaining that a three-digit phone number to call for help – such as our 911 – can be found in countries throughout the world. The emergency responder system is built, he continued, around the simple principle that if you need help and you call, that help will come. “Strangers trust LifeFlight with their most precious cargo,” he said.

He told stories of Mainers who have “received a second chance” because of LifeFlight’s medivac services, and made the point that LifeFlight cannot do what it does except it tandem with ground-based EMS, fire and police. “It’s not LifeFlight; it’s about 150 people” involved in every operation, he explained, and LifeFlight’s unique capability is to “reset the clock” by moving patients from accident to hospital, or more frequently, hospital to bigger, better equipped hospital, in an attempt to get the patient to where they can get the help they need.

The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club presented a check for $1,000 to LifeFlight in support of all the organization does.

Earlier, Club vice president Jeff Long had started off the evening by explaining that as Rotarians, we believe in and live the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” As examples, Jeff pointed to our bicycle program, which provides transportation to our international seasonal workers, and to our fundraising charity Auction, which makes it possible for us to fund the good work we do throughout the year. Jeff added that “Service Above Self” is also a terrific way to describe what first responders do.

A total of 11 high school Interact students were on hand throughout the evening to pass appetizers and clear plates – thank you, Interact and advisor Rotarian Ingrid Merrill! Club members Daren and Debbie Graves chaired the evening.

Interested in learning more about Rotary and the good work we do? Except on special occasions such as Hometown Heroes, we meet each Thursday evening for fellowship and fun at the Rotary Clubhouse, 55 Montgomery Road, Boothbay Harbor. Newcomers are always welcome!