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06/16/2015 12:00 AMThirty-six years ago, our dad, First Assistant Chief Rene Cormier, died in the line of duty.
Every Memorial Day since, rain or shine, the Westbrook Fire Department has honored his service and sacrifice during the Memorial Day Parade. This year the parade route was changed to allow access to the new Shoreline Clinic; this meant that the Cypress Cemetery would no longer be included. Although we were disappointed, we understood the importance of emergency vehicles having easy access to the clinic.
You can imagine how incredibly moved we were when at the conclusion of the parade, the men and women of the Westbrook Fire Department arrived at the cemetery with the full fleet of fire trucks and emergency vehicles. And as they have for 35 years, they stood by our side; they remembered and honored our father. The gesture is a true example of their dedication and loyalty to fellow firefighters and the community. The residents of Westbrook, whether they live here year-round or only in the summertime, are blessed to have such an incredible group of volunteer firemen and ambulance personnel—volunteers who respond any time the call comes; volunteers who protect and rescue our neighbors, our children, our parents, our pets; volunteers who come whether you are a friend, a neighbor, or stranger.
Our family thanks each and every one of these volunteers for all that they do. We thank them for their service, their dedication, their hard work, and their loyalty. We thank them for remembering those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting others.
Libby Cormier Rutty
Westbrook