Sarah Ray and her husband, Paul, had just finished exchanging vows at the altar. The ceremony was over, and everyone was looking forward to greeting the couple at the reception. Sarah and Paul were taking a moment to savor their union before leaving the church when both phones went off.

The newlyweds, both paramedics, received an alert that a driver had run a red light and collided with a car carrying Sarah’s parents and grandparents. The accident had happened less than two miles from the church. When she got the news, Sarah didn’t stop to think; she started running.

She arrived on the scene on foot just after the emergency crews, but that didn’t stop her. Her training took over and she began to assess injuries and comfort her family. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, though Sarah’s grandmother was taken to the hospital for an evaluation.

In an interview with Inside Edition, Sarah, her new husband beside her, said, “Any other responder that had come across a wreck, whether it be their family or not, or whether they had been in their wedding dress or not, would have made sure if everyone was ok.”

Sarah’s grandmother was concerned that her injuries would ruin Sarah’s day, but the reception went on. Her grandmother was released from the hospital with a clean bill of health, and after an eventful wedding day, Sarah and Paul are back on the job as Montgomery County paramedics.

In a world filled with unfortunate accidents and surrounded by tragedy, we’re grateful to be able to bring you an occasional happy ending. Sarah Ray says she’s not a hero, but her dedication to her work and her family prove otherwise.

Small town heroes like Sarah are the ones who save lives on a daily basis and whose work often goes unnoticed and unrecognized by the larger world. We would like to take a moment to recognize the hard work, dedication, and professionalism of all of our first responders and thank them for their efforts. They are the everyday heroes that keep us safe.