Emergency lights flashed and sirens blared.

They were coming from off in the distance and seemed they would never arrive at their destination.

Rarely are such displays part of the Ashe experience. Such extended episodes are meant for big cities and grossly tragic events.

Saturday night however, the blasts and wails and flashing lights were a celebration.

It was an annual parade to celebrate the sacrifice, and courage and dedication of members of our community that serve on volunteer fire departments and as rescue workers.

It was a deserving bit of theatrics that drew attention – once – to men and women who usually don’t seek recognition.

They are the ones willing to get out of a warm bed on at 3 o’clock on a cold January morning and crawl inside a burning house in which you can’t see your hand in front of your face.

They are trained to be the first on the scene at incidents like the one last week in which a propane truck went off Hwy. 88 and ended up down an embankment. There was a minor gas leak this time, but firemen have certainly come upon more dangerous situations and have been the ones responsible for cleaning up the mess.

What would we do about the messes made by house fires and car wrecks and injured people lost in the woods if it were not for these volunteers.

Their willingness to do it is amazing and should be recognized. A certain recognition happened Saturday with the parade of fire trucks and emergency vehicles.

The Jefferson Post will have another recognition of their efforts Oct. 16 with publication of the Salute to Fire and Rescue.

We should all do it with a thank you.