By Jordan J. Phelan
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ALSTEAD — From the smoke-filled skies of Vietnam to the tranquil waters of Cheshire County’s Vilas Pool, Bernard “Tim” Barratt has seen many things in his lifetime. But it is all thanks to a supportive community, his loving family and the presence of a bright pink fire truck that Tim now refers to Friday, June 12, 2020, as the best day of his life.
Amid a world thrown into uncertainty where self-preservation may seem like the instinctual priority over all else, members of numerous area communities have shown that people will always jump at the opportunity to do what is right for the betterment of those around them.
That is precisely what happened along the edge of Alstead’s Cold River at Millet Green Friday morning when cheerful residents, first responders and Rolling Thunder joined close friends and family to honor a father and retired serviceman whose devotion to country went above and beyond the call of duty.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Tim spent more than a decade as a member of the Air Force serving three four-year enlistments between 1962 and 1973. But two months ago, the 35-year resident of Alstead was presented with yet another challenge — a prognosis of six months to live after his stage 4 terminal lung cancer had progressed into brain and spinal cancer.
It was then that his daughter and son-in-law, Amanda and Tim Anders, knew they wanted to do something to celebrate his many sacrifices.
“I wanted to get his name out and what my father-in-law has done for the country,” said Tim Anders, who has served as a firefighter for 15 years. “He has done a lot for his community. I wanted to let him know that he is loved and he is appreciated.”
After doing some research, the couple decided to reach out to Jay Meyer, coordinator of Pink Heals Vermont’s Windham County chapter, a local group affiliated with a national program whose mission is to amplify community support for people battling a disease or illness. For Meyer, he takes this responsibility as a personal duty to help celebrate those who might not receive the recognition they truly deserve.
“If you are down, if you are in a hard time, if you need love, then I want to have a line of people like today to come out and say, ‘We love you. We are here for you. We support you.’ Because there are people that we should do that for,” said Meyers, who is also a firefighter for the town of Putney, Vermont. “We should support each other.”
With sirens wailing and lights flashing, crews from neighboring communities drove into Alstead where a teary-eyed Tim stood hugging his daughter, thankful beyond the power of his words for the overwhelming comfort and encouragement from both loved ones and strangers alike.
For Tim, it was a moment like no other.
“It was a total honor. It was an emotional day but it was the best day of my life,” Tim said. “I will fight till the end.”
After a line of grateful first responders offered their thanks to the 74-year-old war veteran, Tim was able to sign his name on the pink fire truck, the same vehicle his daughter signed approximately three years ago after being diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer. Today, Amanda is cancer-free.
Although it was initially their collective vision, Amanda and Tim Anders were blown away by how much support the community was able to offer.
“To see the community come together and to see the fire department come together to honor one of its own citizens means the world to me,” Tim Anders said.
While this battle — one of many in Tim’s life — is not over yet, the names of Tim Barratt and Amanda Anders are forever emboldened on the truck dedicated to those who never stop fighting.
“[Having our names on the truck together is] something that I thought I’d never have to do but it is a total honor,” Amanda said. “He’s always been there for me. He’s been my rock. And now I am trying to be his through this difficult time. I am going to be there for him till the end.”
“And hopefully I will, too,” Tim said.
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