Matthew Flinchbaugh

Tonight was a hard night, on Saturday the 15th of May the world lost a good man. Who devoted his most recent years to the community by being a member of the Canadochly Valley Ambulance Club. His name was Kevin Craley. It was through this devotion that I came to know him. No matter what situation we were in be it a call that the fire company was on, or a training, he always put a smile on your face and if it was not on your face for all to see then you worked your ass of to keep it from bursting into public. Tonight the memorial for Kevin was held. During this the York County Dispatch Center held a last call for Kevin. This was the first time I have ever been at a memorial for a member of the emergency services. And had the opportunity to experience the “last call.” This last call is not like the one you hear at a bar. This is something of the upmost respect, and of high honor in the emergency services. Everything in the emergency services returns from duty and is placed available. That includes each tool that is used, each price of apparatus, each department, and each of its members. When one of the apparatus is in need of repair we call it “Out of Service,” and this is called out over the air. When an apparatus is retired from service it is placed out of service. In the emergency services a last call is performed when a responder passes away. This is done by placing that individual available. And is completed by taking the individual out of service. Tonight Kevin, received his last call.

To many this may not mean much, or sound like much. But to a responder let me tell you it hits you and it hits you hard when you experience someones last call. Especially someone involved in many of the emergencies you respond on.

Kevin will be missed by many and has touched many. And anyone who knew him were lucky to have known him. Those who did not have no idea what they missed out on.

Thank you kevin for making the times interesting and enjoyable.