A final convoy for ‘The Chief’

PRATTSVILLE―There were big rigs and firetrucks, heavy haulers and pickups, pumpers and rescue vehicles. But mostly there were hearts and souls coming together to celebrate the life of Randy Brainerd under a gentle rain in Prattsville.

Family, friends, on-the-road-again buds and firefighters from surrounding towns gathered last Saturday afternoon in a field under the humble tent of Discover Life Church while an autumn nor’easter paused just enough to let solemnity unfold.

But a little rain or a torrent of it never stopped “The Chief” from doing what he felt was his calling. So, in turn, nobody was going anywhere.

The fire siren sounded as his volunteer brethren formed a perimeter around the makeshift chapel and filed past a photograph of Brainerd positioned next to an urn of his earthly remains.

Every firefighter respectfully saluted. A bagpiper stirringly played “Amazing Grace” as heads bowed, tears came and some smiles showed as small children could be heard innocently chattering.

Randy Brainerd, having four kids of his own with his wife Tammy, wouldn’t have had it any other way. He passed in mid-September, as the leaves were hinting at change.

He is as much a part of Prattsville as the hemlock trees forming its roots, and the way his eulogy tells the story, “Randy lived his life fast and hard and gave his everything to always helping anyone in any way he could.”

Brainerd was a 47-year lifetime member of the Prattsville Hose Company, 20 years as fire chief, four as 3rd assistant chief, and was a fire commissioner from 2011 until he couldn’t do it any longer.

“Randy helped save countless lives whether it was during floods, fires or accidents and never thought twice about putting himself in danger to help someone else,” his eulogy says.

“Randy spent his life driving tractor trailers and hauled anything from huge rocks to oversized equipment to blacktop.”

“He worked for many different outfits over the years. You could call him from any road in the U.S. and give him the mile marker and he could tell you where to go every time.”

“Each time any of his children traveled out of state, they always ran into someone who knew their dad. He was known by so many.”

A couple hundred of those someones ignored the chilly precipitation as current Prattsville Fire Chief Tom Olson light-heartedly reminded everyone of something that didn’t really require reminding.

“The Chief” was fond of teasing and there wasn’t much he couldn’t find a joke in―or try to― in a world where laughter is a priceless gift.

A convoy of trucks were lined up on opposite sides of the pathway leading to the tent chapel, forming a pall bearer’s procession for Brainerd from there down Main Street and the last mile to his firehouse, circling it.

The line moved slowly and poignantly while what would become a 72-hour drencher settled in, bringing to mind “A Trucker’s Prayer.”

“Oh Lord, be with me today as I head out onto the open road, for I know not the dangers that this day may hold;

“With a map by my side, Oh Lord, let it be you that is my daily guide, and as I head out to where the yellow line never ends;

“It sure is good to know that you will be riding with me, once again, and when I have taken my last road, there will be one final trip I must take;

“One that will be on a road that is paved with gold, and there I will rest, for there will be no more trips to take, once I have entered Heaven’s Gates.”