Letter to the editor: Grateful to rescuers in Kecksburg

My husband, Ron, and I were at last month’s Kecksburg UFO Festival at the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department grounds in our 1990 Camaro convertible when rain started moving in. I tried to put the top up but couldn’t get the release buttons to work.

A fireman named Larry stepped in to help. He got a huge tarp, and a young volunteer named Faith ran to the car with it as I stayed inside. Two other volunteers drove to the car and helped Ron get it covered. They put soaked Ron in their vehicle, and they stood in the wind and heavy rain holding the tarp in place for about a half-hour.

Without these dedicated, caring and unselfish rescuers, our car would have been full of water and probably would have had to be towed.

When the rain subsided, a couple of other firemen tried to raise the top, but to no avail. One fireman drove the car inside the fire truck garage, and even more rescuers came in. Somehow one of them finally got the top up. Another wonderful Kecksburg rescuer gave Ron a shirt, pants and socks to change into — and a new UFO T-shirt.

They wanted nothing in return. They “rescue,” and we will be forever grateful. Don’t ever forget to always thank these responders who go out into whatever situation they find themselves in to help someone in distress, including our servicemen and women and police officers protecting us.

Marianne Caruso

Penn Township, Westmoreland County