The work of rescue squads often evolves into recovery efforts. That is the nature of the work. Rescuers bring unspeakable joy when they find a lost child. They help ease heartbreak when they recover a drowning victim.

Rescue again turned to recovery last week when the Morgan County Rescue Squad took the lead in attempting to find and rescue Jeffery Todd Palmer, 43, of Neel from the Tennessee River.

The search began Monday about 48 hours after Mr. Palmer launched his kayak at General Electric for what he told friends was to hunt, look for arrowheads and camp out.

For five days, volunteers from across the state hunted for Mr. Palmer in cold and wet weather. A man walking his dog found the body Thursday morning near the shore at Point Mallard golf course. But it was only a matter of time until the rescue squads would have reclaimed the drowning victim’s body. They work efficiently and systematically.

Rescue squad members are community volunteers who perform search and rescue as their civic duty.

The United Way of Morgan County is conducting its annual fund drive. The goal is $1.8 million. If you are not sure about giving to United Way because you think it is a faceless bureaucracy, think about all of the work that the Morgan County Rescue Squad does. That should make it easier to write a check or make a pledge to United Way because the rescue squad is one of its member agencies.

Like all of the United Way agencies, the rescue squad does necessary work for our county.

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