PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) — In an emotional display of support, staff from Maine Medical Center along with Maine police officers, first responders, firefighters and military members lined the halls of the hospital to give a sendoff to a fallen veteran.
The Portland Fire Department said Maine Medical Center asked them to assist in giving a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Iraq, but whose identity we don't know, a deserving sendoff Wednesday.
The department said the Marine's body was covered with an American flag as he was escorted down the hallway lined with dozens of people, all standing at attention.
A sergeant with the U.S. Army, Daniel Emerson, told NEWS CENTER Maine the emotions that he felt in that moment.
"You've got to maintain a bearing, but inside your heart is pumping. It's a humbling experience, it's something that's so much bigger than what you are. He wasn't even part of the same branch but we are all one team and we all represent the same thing. So just to see that turnout for that was a very emotional experience"
Though filled with people, the hallway remained silent as the unknown Marine entered the operating room where his organs were recovered to give the gift of life to others.
The image taken at the hospital by Michael McGrath during the sendoff has drawn support across the country.
Steven SanPedro from the VFW also told NEWS CENTER Maine that it was about 4 hours from when he first got the phone call from Maine Medical Center asking for help until all of those people had dropped whatever they were doing to make sure they were present for the sendoff.