Wednesday, June 11, 2008
A hero passes in Buchanan
From the RoundTable blog
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James B. Way
Way is a retired engineer, living in Roanoke.
Several years ago a Roanoke Times editorial staff member wrote an article concerning the passing of Buchanan Town Mayor Stull Carson, who had been captain of the rescue squad and a member since the squad's inception. Recently, John Carson, his son, better known as Johnny, passed away at age 50.
Johnny joined the squad at age 16 and served continuously to the present. Like father, like son, he gave of himself without concern for his own health many times.
He served as captain of the Buchanan squad and as president of the Botetourt County Association of Rescue Squads. He also served on the Botetourt County Highway Safety Commission.
Johnny attended Virginia Tech and earned an associate degree in radiological technology from Virginia Western Community College. On his own time he went through the grueling classes and training at Community Hospital to receive his certificate for passing the trauma training program.
He worked very hard and became a nationally certified paramedic. On his own time and mostly without any compensation, Johnny taught classes, some of which included doctors as class members. He was intelligent and so very well-versed as a result of his study and class attendance.
At the funeral in the Buchanan Presbyterian Church, the church minister, the Rev. Marina Gopadze used a five-word verse from the Bible to illustrate Johnny's life, "He went about doing good."
A member of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors gave a very moving summary of Johnny's work life and pointed out that he did almost all of his work for no compensation.
He told about Johnny's desire to have young people in school preparing themselves for rescue squad work and that he was instrumental in having a program started in high school for the students to take courses in caring for the sick and those injured in accidents so that later they could join this noble volunteer work. He went on to say that the program would forever be known as the John S. Carson Program.
As the funeral procession passed down Main Street, it was moving to see squad members and police cars at every corner, with the officers standing outside at attention and saluting.
At the conclusion of the grave-side service, a medical emergency call sounded over the county radio system. The dispatcher in Fincastle came on to say, "This is the last medical emergency call for Capt. Johnny Carson."
So passes the kind soul of a man who cared deeply for his fellow man in need of emergency medical help. He gave of himself tirelessly until the very end. It was fitting that he passed away in the emergency room after being transported in one of the emergency vehicles in which he had made so many trips for others.
