The two fear what may happen if Rescue can't secure the funding it needs to survive.

Harmon's father has needed Rescue twice in the last year. He's appreciative of the prompt, professional care that was delivered.

Hayes said his family has also called on Rescue in recent years -- once when his father-in-law had a stroke and again when his son was in a car accident and had possible life-threatening injuries. He too was pleased with the care Rescue provided.

In 1967, Hayes and his father were involved in a car accident in Acton. At the time, Rescue didn't exist and the only ambulance service was operated by a funeral home.

"It was two hours before anyone got there," Hayes said. "I remember what it was like."

Hayes said his father had injuries which plagued him for several years that might have been avoided had better, more immediate care been available on the scene.

Rescue can respond anywhere in the county in nine minutes or less. And life-saving care can begin immediately.

"We're concerned," Hayes said about his and Harmon's efforts to play what role they can in saving Rescue.

Harmon said he has been attending meetings of Taylor Fiscal Court for the last few months and decided last month to do something when magistrates voted 4 to 3 against additional funds for Rescue. Hayes has also been attending meetings of the court and decided to assist Harmon.

"I have a 15-year-old son," Harmon said. "We have got to stand up for what we believe in."

Hayes agreed.

"I have children and grandchildren," Hayes said. "I'm concerned about what it would be like without emergency medical service."

The two have asked supporters of Rescue to write letters to both the newspaper and fiscal court. They are also asking supporters to be present when the court meets Tuesday night.

"We don't want to take up a lot of time," Harmon said. "There are some people who are going to tell their stories. We just want the court to know that Rescue has support."

Hayes said Rescue provides emergency medical service that can't be equaled. Other communities, he said, will tell anyone that Taylor County's personnel are among the best in the nation.

"We don't want to lose that," Hayes said. "Once it's gone, it's gone."

Harmon said the only message that he and others who support Rescue want to deliver to the court Tuesday night is that a solution needs to be found.

"We aren't saying how it needs to be organized," Hayes said. "We just want the court to do something to maintain the level of service we have. We want them to solve the problem."

Hayes said a short-term solution won't work.

"There has got to be a level of funding to provide what this county wants," Hayes said. "We consider police and fire to be necessities and we don't think twice about the cost."

"We could be talking about the life of someone's child or wife," Harmon said. "We have got to have someone with expertise providing emergency medical care."

The community can't afford to let Rescue fold, Harmon said, and then awaken to the need only after there's a "terrible tragedy."

Hayes said Rescue actually generates about $300,000 of the $750,000 or so each year it needs. Police and fire are needed, he said, and no one would think of asking them to generate that kind of money.

Each year more than a million people visit Green River Lake, Harmon said. He said it's essential that Rescue be able to respond quickly to a variety of situations. It's also essential, he said, that Rescue have divers and be trained in such things as swift water rescue.

Those are the kinds of things a for-profit service won't provide, Harmon said.

Hayes said Rescue stands by at ball games, provides services at the Fourth of July Celebration, the county fair and other events, makes checks for carbon monoxide, helps industries with safety needs, provides training and much, much more, all at no charge.

"Who else would do that?" Hayes asked.

Taylor County Hospital is a level III trauma center because of the quick response time Rescue provides, Harmon said. He said that means the chances of surviving a heart attack or other serious emergency is much greater in Taylor County than elsewhere in the station or nation -- because of Rescue.

Industries considering Taylor County also look at emergency services including medical care, said Harmon.

"Rescue is an important tool for industrial recruitment," Harmon said. He said officials in Somerset told him that representatives of industries considering a plant in the area often drop by unannounced and look over the emergency medical services.

Industries must meet various safety codes and want to be certain their employees will be taken care of in the event of an emergency, Harmon said. He said a strong Rescue assures that.

Many have come to take Rescue for granted, Harmon said. He said the men and women who make up Rescue have worked with little security, low pay and even signed notes to keep the organization going.

"They have even mortgaged their own homes," Harmon said.

It's to the point, Harmon said, that without a long-term financial solution Rescue can't survive.

Last month, Campbellsville City Council approved additional funds for Rescue. Fiscal court by a vote of 4-3 did not.

Pulaski County funds rescue by allocating a set percentage of its occupational tax to its organization, Harmon said. He said the 911 communications center there gets an identical percentage.

Rescue in Pulaski County reports to the city, Harmon said, while 911 reports to the county.

Industrial recruitment, the county and city also get a set percentage of the tax, Harmon said.

As Pulaski County grows, Hayes said, those percentages increase and the services also grow in response.

The men and women who make up Rescue are highly qualified and can find jobs anywhere, Hayes said. He said they have stayed here because it's home.

"Many people don't know what we've got," Hayes said. "Once you lose it, you won't get it back."

Daryl Harmon and Dan Hayes hope you will attend Tuesday's meeting of Taylor Fiscal Court to voice support for Campbellsville/Taylor County Rescue.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the Taylor County Courthouse. It is open to the public.

Last month, fiscal court failed by a 4 to 3 vote to approve additional funds for Rescue.