Funeral procession honors young firefighter
Scores of fire and police vehicles formed a funeral procession this morning to honor a 19-year-old Sharon Hill volunteer firefighter.
Michael D. Reagan Jr., of Holmes, died Saturday from injuries he received when part of a burning garage collapsed on him and two other firefighters in a Sept. 26 blaze.
It is a tragedy when anyone in public service loses their life. When a young person loses their life we often react with great sadness because of the thoughts of a life unfulfilled. In the case of Mike Reagan, his vocation as a Volunteer Firefighter was the beginning of a life’s journey cut short by accidental tragedy.
In the case of the two Armored car guards who were killed yesterday we have an equal sense of grief, but in that case the senselessness of the crime compounds the tragedy. These officers were in a different stage of their lives, closer to the end of their journey than the beginning like young Mike. They fulfilled a different role in their families, father, grandfather, teacher, mentor. All the things a lifetime of experience and lessons learned brings to a family. Mike leaves behind the questions of what would have been. Ironically Mike was an aspiring Police Officer. His life’s journey undoubtedly would have been very similar to Officers Allullo and Widmeyer’s, hopefully without the tragic ending.
Those who are called into public service usually do it for the right reasons. Guys like Mike do it as Volunteers. They deserve all the respect and honor we can bestow upon them. So today FF. Mike Reagan is laid to rest. Lets all salute him and his memory.
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