I want to thank all the Emergency Management and Public Safety folks here in Moore County, Police and Sheriff's Departments, Moore County Rescue Squads, State Highway Patrol Aviation Division, and Sandhills Overland Search and Rescue (SAR); the dog teams from the Department of Corrections, Central NC SAR (Chapel Hill), Reds out of Wake County, and Wake K-9 (Apex); and the search teams from Hope Mills Fire Department, Pender County, Robeson County, Wake County, and Richmond County.

On the Aug. 5-6 weekend, we had a very serious situation happen here in Aberdeen where an elderly man wandered away from his home on foot and wasn't able to find his way back. The family contacted 911 after a couple of hours, and then something wonderful unfolded.

I speak of the folks listed above. I have never been involved with a missing person situation before, and I want the citizens of Aberdeen and Moore County to know about the tireless dedication, professionalism and precision of our public safety personnel here and around the state.

The command center was established within an hour of the 911 call. From around the county and state, the emergency personnel gathered at the site. The coordination of the search was directed and carried out with precision. After some 16 hours, the missing man was found.

I was so amazed and thankful for the dedicated men and women who dropped everything to help. I intentionally did not list any specific names because I couldn't include over 200 folks involved in this effort.

Bill Zell

Aberdeen