On Monday, my wife was laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland after a 10-month battle with complications from a severe spinal cord injury.

She was a popular and energizing presence in our city. Her battle to live as normal a life as possible, despite being rendered a quadriplegic forever tethered to a life support system, took an enormous toll on her body.

Her spirit never gave up, but ultimately her body had had enough, and she passed peacefully at home, where she desired to be, with family by her side.

Her retinue of friends was extensive, so when I was making the funeral arrangements, I requested a police escort to accompany her body. The South Portland Police Department responded with what can only be described as a magical performance.

As we traveled from one end of the city to the other, it was as if the Red Sea had parted.

Cruisers suddenly appeared and blocked each major intersection as our procession proceeded at a stately pace across the city. And – what is rarely seen these days – autos in the opposite lanes obediently pulled over to the side as we passed them by.

On behalf of Gina and me and our family and friends, kudos upon kudos to the South Portland Police Department and the commuters for the respect shown that day to us as we traveled to lay her body to rest.

Dan Page

South Portland


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