No need to apologize, it's a good example of political stupidity. It isn't the only place its happened either. You know, you've got to be a pretty sorry POS to stop firefighters from doing that. But it happens.
I went to school and was in the Boy Scouts with a boy with MD. He was a "red blanket case" a couple of times, and Jerry came to see him both times. He lived, and went on to graduate and make Eagle Scout, got his award on a gurney. He was still around a few years after school, I saw him on the local Telethon coverage after he raised a lot of money several times. I lost track of him, I'd say he's likely gone now.
Those kids are so grateful for what people do for them. I built vans for some of them a few years ago. The pay wasn't that great, but putting them in a van of their own that they could drive was a really big reward. They always wanted to know how they could thank me enough. I told them to "wear this one out completely so I can build you another one". The company is gone now, bought out by a bigger place from Atlanta.
