On Saturday, July 11th, 2003 we buried my partner (private ambulance) and one of the best friends I ever had, Elisa Escalante. For those who knew her in her life, she was Ellie.
Ellie was dedicated and her dream was to follow in her Uncle's footsteps, become a firefighter. At the private ambulance that we both worked for, we were partners. No matter how bad it got, how difficult the day was, Ellie could not stand to see anyone sad. She would always tell a joke or play a song to cheer us up. Ellie was special and we knew that before we lost her. Her giggles, her smile, her laughter will be forever encased into our hearts.
Her funeral was a beautiful tribute to her life. On the one week anniversary of her tragic death, the family stayed by her casket for the entire night. We arrived in the morning to give her one very last ride on one of our trucks.
When her funeral percession pulled out onto the street, people came out of their house to silently watch the 3 mile long percession drive quietly by. Some pulled over on the side of the road and got out of their cars, and quietly watched as we took one of our own on her last ride on top of OWL's Pumper. Aparatus after aparatus followed then car after car. The police closed off the side of the road we were on so we would not be disturbed by traffic.
At the cemetary, we said out final goodbyes as the honor guard handed her the American flag to her Mom. It was a beautiful tribute to our own. Our hearts are broken and we reel in the pain we are in from loosing her. However there will always be that next call we will answer, that next fire to fight, the next civil service emergency for us to stand up to. For all those in Virginia that knew her, we will rise to the next call with dedication, loyaty, sacrifice and love-for Ellie, so she can go on living her dreams thru us. She gave us so many gifts in her 20 years that she was here, we will gladly give her this gift. We can go on living and being strong knowing she is still here with us. Please keep us-her-OWL FD-and the love of her life, Mr. Young, who was the firefighter with her, in your prayers and thoughts.
Ellie was dedicated and her dream was to follow in her Uncle's footsteps, become a firefighter. At the private ambulance that we both worked for, we were partners. No matter how bad it got, how difficult the day was, Ellie could not stand to see anyone sad. She would always tell a joke or play a song to cheer us up. Ellie was special and we knew that before we lost her. Her giggles, her smile, her laughter will be forever encased into our hearts.
Her funeral was a beautiful tribute to her life. On the one week anniversary of her tragic death, the family stayed by her casket for the entire night. We arrived in the morning to give her one very last ride on one of our trucks.
When her funeral percession pulled out onto the street, people came out of their house to silently watch the 3 mile long percession drive quietly by. Some pulled over on the side of the road and got out of their cars, and quietly watched as we took one of our own on her last ride on top of OWL's Pumper. Aparatus after aparatus followed then car after car. The police closed off the side of the road we were on so we would not be disturbed by traffic.
At the cemetary, we said out final goodbyes as the honor guard handed her the American flag to her Mom. It was a beautiful tribute to our own. Our hearts are broken and we reel in the pain we are in from loosing her. However there will always be that next call we will answer, that next fire to fight, the next civil service emergency for us to stand up to. For all those in Virginia that knew her, we will rise to the next call with dedication, loyaty, sacrifice and love-for Ellie, so she can go on living her dreams thru us. She gave us so many gifts in her 20 years that she was here, we will gladly give her this gift. We can go on living and being strong knowing she is still here with us. Please keep us-her-OWL FD-and the love of her life, Mr. Young, who was the firefighter with her, in your prayers and thoughts.
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