Community members gathered Tuesday evening to offer a collective “thank you” to Powell’s first responders with a dinner, presentations and prayer.

“We come here to really recognize these people who serve, often under the radar and behind the scenes, but people without whom we would be in a world of hurt and in a whole lot of trouble,” First Baptist Church Pastor David Pool said at the outset. “So we’re here to appreciate these good men and women and really to thank the Lord for them.”

First responders representing many local agencies — the Powell Volunteer Fire Department, the Powell Police Department, Powell Valley Healthcare Emergency Medical Services, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Park County Sheriff’s Office and Park County Search and Rescue — were summoned in front of the audience, prayed for by local clergy and thanked.

The Rev. Phil Wagner of St. Barbara’s Catholic Church also blessed the public servants’ vehicles.

Powell Church of Christ minister Gerry Parker led a prayer of thanks for Powell’s EMTs from personal experience: they responded and aided him when he suffered a heart attack in March.

“Because of them, because of God using them, I’m still here,” Parker said, adding, “I appreciate the wonderful blessing that the first responders are to our community.”

Similarly, Powell resident Dawn Jarrett recounted how Powell police and EMTs helped save the life of her husband, Jim, when he suffered a heart attack three years ago.

“We, along with our two kids, are thankful every day for our heroes, who showed up in our time of need and gave Jim a second chance at life to enjoy this wonderful world and the two grandbabies that we now have,” Dawn Jarrett said, adding, “Thank the first responders whenever you get a chance. Hopefully you’ll never need them, but if you do, believe me, they will be there for you.”

Pool said thank-yous often go unsaid to emergency responders; it was clear they appreciated Tuesday’s event.

“We don’t get thanked a lot, but we don’t care about that. We care about our community, our people,” said EMT Kaitlynn Norman. “This (means) so much to us, so we really thank you guys all.”

Added Park County Sheriff’s Deputy Andy MaGill, “A lot of times we get called out early in the morning to go out in the middle of nowhere, so we’re used to it; but we don’t feel alone, really, because of the community and all of the support that we get.”

Speaking of local first responders, “we all got into this business because that’s the type of people we are,” MaGill said, saying they do the job to help other people.

“We’re just grateful for everything that the community has done for us, and we’re grateful for each other,” the deputy said.

One of the motivations behind the “Powell First Responders Appreciation Day” was the ongoing tension between police and citizens across the country.

“When we hear the ambulance go by, a lot of us will say a little prayer; when a cop pulls somebody over to the side of the road, say a little prayer for them, too,” said former Powell mayor and KPOW broadcaster Scott Mangold, who emceed the event. “It’s getting a little tough out there.”

Although the agencies weren’t represented at the gathering, speakers also expressed thanks for local game wardens and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agents.