When my father had a heart attack in 1966 (from which he recovered), the midnight siren of the approaching ambulance along empty rural roads was surprisingly comforting. The ambulance crew explained, in passing, that our experience was shared by others although the siren often served no immediate traffic safety purpose.

Today, in Portland, the overhead engine of the LifeFlight helicopter is a welcome reassurance that some other family in need of help is about to receive it.

Peter Fessenden
Portland